₦airaland Forum

The President-elect Bola Tinubu has opposed the application by his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a live broadcast of the proceedings of the election petition.

In response to the application, Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, through the team of their lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun said the application is an “abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

They implored the Presidential Election Petition Court to dismiss the application, arguing that the relief demanded by the applicants is not such that the court could grant it.

The respondents said, “With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

They further said the request of Atiku and his party should not be thrown out because the court “is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.”

They stated, in the counter affidavit, that the application was linked to policy formulation of the court, which is outside the PEPC’s jurisdiction as constituted.

“The application also touches on the powers and jurisdiction invested in the President of the Court of Appeal by the Constitution, over which this honourable court as presently constituted cannot entertain.

“The application touches on the administrative functions, which are exclusively reserved for the President of the Court of Appeal.

“The application is aimed at dissipating the precious judicial time of this honourable court.

“The said application does not have any bearing with the petition filed by the petitioners before this honourable court.

“It is in the interest of justice for this honourable court to dismiss the said application filed by the petitioners,” they said.

In an attached written address, the respondents criticised the applicants’ reference to the fact that virtual proceedings were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They argued that Atiku and the PDP failed to highlight the fact that practice directions were made by the respective courts for the exercise.

“Another angle to this very curious application is the invitation it extends to the court to make an order that it cannot supervise.

“The position of the law remains, and we do submit that the court, like nature, does not make an order in vain, or an order which is incapable of enforcement,” the respondents stated.

They further said that “At the very best, this application is academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.

“Petitioners have brought their application under Section 36(3) of the Constitution which provides that the proceedings of a court/tribunal shall be held in public.

“The word ‘public’ as applied under Section 36(3) of the Constitution has been defined in a plethora of judicial authorities to mean a place where members of the public have unhindered access, and the court itself, sitting behind open doors, not in the camera.

“Even in situations where a class action is presented, the particular people constituting the class being represented by the plaintiffs or petitioners are always defined in the originating process.

“Here, in this application, the public at whose behest this application has been presented is not defined, not known, not discernable.

“Beyond all these, it is our submission that the court of law must and should always remain what it is, what it should be and what it is expected to be: a serene, disciplined, hallowed, tranquil, honourable and decorous institution and place.

“It is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.

“With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Attahiru Jega has called for the redesign of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as a voluntary programme for Nigerian graduates.

He spoke at a commemoration of the NYSC’s 50th anniversary on Monday which had past and present director generals of the scheme in attendance.

The golden jubilee, which had the theme ‘Five Decades of Fostering Unity and Development’, was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Fatima Abubakar; service chiefs; and corp members, among others.

Jega, who was a guest speaker at the event, argued that the Federal Government needed to make the scheme more favourable to the Nigerian youth, adding that it should adjust to global best practices, if it must be mandatory.

Delivering a lecture, he highlighted the successes of the scheme but called for appropriate repositioning to make it more relevant to the times.

However, not everyone agreed with Jega as some others were of the view that the NYSC in last five decades had lived up to the essence of its establishment, particularly regarding community development.

For Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Fatima Abubakar, the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari to the NYSC Trust Fund Bill would make a significant difference.

While acknowledging the remarkable contributions of the scheme to national development, there were also recommendations for the repositioning of the scheme to help it adjust to global best practices.

The celebration also afforded participants the opportunity to reflect on the essence of the scheme, namely national unity and integration.

Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, says President-elect [b]Bola Tinubu is “God’s own choice” for the leadership of the country.

Akpabio spoke on Sunday when he was hosted by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor.

The former Niger Delta affairs minister was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of senate president while Barau Jibrin was recommended as deputy senate president.

Akpabio said senators-elect for the 10th assembly believe in the vision Tinubu has for the country and are willing to offer their support.

He said if elected as senate president, he will deploy a “national approach” to lawmaking in the red chamber.

Akpabio said the nation’s economy is in need of serious development, adding that the administration of Tinubu will replicate the development in Lagos at the federal level.

He said the senate will collaborate with the new administration to bring the dream to fruition.

“The stability group of the 10th senate is made up of men and women of integrity. We came today to show ourselves to the governor and also solicit his support,” he said.

“He (Sanwo-Olu) has not only thrown his support behind us, he has shown so much hospitality. Today, he stood before the cameras to endorse my humble self to become the president of the 10th senate and Senator Jibrin as deputy senate president-designate.

“We are not taking this support for granted. This team has senators elect from different political backgrounds and parties. We are determined to ensure collaboration and support for the incoming administration of Tinubu whose presidency is a nationalistic project that will bring positive development to Nigeria.

“We want him to replicate what has happened in Lagos in the last 24 years of democracy to cover the rest of the country.”

On his part, Sanwo-Olu described Akpabio as a Nigerian with an “outstanding profile and experience”, adding that he will set new standards and break legislative records in the 10th assembly.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says about 80 officers have gone on trial over the collection of illegal fees for the issuance and renewal of passports.

Speaking with NAN on Sunday, Tony Akuneme, NIS spokesperson, said eight officers have been dismissed in connection to the offence in the last year.

He said the disciplinary measures are part of the three-point reform agenda of Isah Jere, NIS comptroller general (CG).

Akuneme said the CG’s three-point agenda includes passport issuance reform, tightening border security and improving the welfare of NIS officers.

The NIS spokesman said the CG has vowed to discipline officers who try to sabotage the reform process.

“We have continued to punish NIS officers and men who try to assist people for a fee. You can assist people genuinely but not extorting from them,” he said.

“We are committed to curbing corruption and other illicit acts in the service. You will appreciate the fact that if nothing else, the level of awareness has increased in the last few months.

“Don’t patronise agents, fill your forms yourself. We have officers watching and these agents know they are being watched. When they take money from you, tell us. If we don’t take action, tell the world.”

He said employing the services of third-party agents in securing passports hinders the reform process.

“We have tried as much as possible to eliminate third parties so that if you really want, you can process the application of your passport from the comfort of your room on your laptop, android phones and you can pay online,” Akuneme said.

“You don’t really need anybody whether immigration officers or agents which we usually call louts. They have upgraded and become agents. They are still third parties.

“The problem we have is the use of third parties because no matter how much reform you put in, you will always see a learned and civilised person using a third party to process his or her application.

“And one thing they don’t understand is that third parties don’t have an idea of the information entered into your application. This can result in somebody having issues with his/her National Identification Number (NIN).”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 218 suspects with 5,610 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in Kaduna.

Ibrahim Braji, NDLEA commandant in Kaduna, in an interview with NAN on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested between January and March.

Braji said the suspects comprised 206 males and 12 females, adding that the number represented both the drug sellers and consumers.

He added that seized drugs included cannabis sativa, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol and other psychotropic substances.

According to the NDLEA commandant, 25 offenders have been prosecuted and convicted.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of our various sensitisation and awareness programmes toward curbing trafficking and usage of illicit drugs, the situation persists,” he said.

“We counselled about 96 drug users as well as rehabilitated a number of persons within the period under review.

“Notwithstanding, the command will continue to fight against drug trafficking and illegal drug consumption in the state to a standstill for positive results.”

Media Personality and AAC Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore has alleged that there are people who want Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti “executed” for slapping a police officer on Third Mainland Bridge.



Sowore who made the claim shortly after the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman Alkali ordered the arrest of Kuti, added that these people want the execution of the singer because he did not support Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the election.



He tweeted;



“There is nothing wrong if you admit that you want @realseunkuti summarily executed because he did not support @peterobi for President, during the 2023 presidential election. even the @PoliceNG agreed to investigate what led to the altercation between @policeng & @realseunkuti on 3rd Mainland bridge earlier today.

“@realseunkuti also accepted to cooperate with investigators, but because he was against @peterobi you want him executed summarily. Suddenly the @policeng that helped @officialABAT rig election in #Nigeriadecides2023, the police that unjustly executed young Nigerians during #endsars are now your heroes because @realseun kuti is not supporting@peterobi Gotcha moment! Republic of HYPOCRITES.#RevolutionNow”

President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the joy of the occasion as Gov. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State celebrates his 63rd birthday, May 13, 2023.

The President’s felicitation was contained in a statement his Special Adviser on Media and Publoicity, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari affirmed that the Senator, who represented Osun-West in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, solidified his base and gradually built a formidable network of friends and political allies that have helped his many victories, including leading one of the 36 states in the country.

READ ALSO: Buhari Appoints AIG Garba Baba Umar As Adviser On Security

According to the statement, the president said he believes that Adeleke’s easy going outlook on life has turned into an asset, with a huge following that cuts across all ages.

He urged the Osun State Governor, whose victory was recently validated by the Supreme Court, to place interest of the State and welfare of the people above all else, and seek God’s guidance to deliver on his mandate.

The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant Adeleke the strength, wisdom and courage to serve his people and the nation.

The Bank of England on Thursday lifted its key interest rate to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, noting inflation remained stubbornly high but that the economy would now avoid recession this year.

The BoE hiked the rate by a quarter-point to 4.5 percent — its 12th increase in a row with UK annual inflation stuck above 10 percent, fuelling a cost-of-living crisis across Britain.

Global policymakers are battling elevated inflation caused largely by runaway energy bills following last year’s invasion of Ukraine by major oil and gas producer Russia.

Following a regular policy meeting, the BoE warned of “considerable uncertainties” on when UK inflation would return to its two-percent target, as soaring food prices offset sharp drops to energy costs.

At the same time, the central bank made a record upgrade to its British GDP forecast, adding there would be only a small impact from recent turmoil in the commercial banking sector.

“Six months ago, we were expecting a shallow but long recession,” BoE governor Andrew Bailey told a press conference.

“Since then, energy prices have fallen substantially and economic activity is holding up much better than expected.”

– ‘Modest but positive’ growth –

Bailey said the UK would this year experience “modest but positive economic growth and a much smaller increase in unemployment.

“We think inflation will fall quite sharply over the coming months,” he added.

Official data Friday is expected to show the UK economy grew during the first quarter of this year after narrowly avoiding recession in the last three months of 2022.

The rate decision comes one week after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government suffered a drubbing in local elections, as voters gave their verdict over rampant living costs despite government efforts to partly subsidise energy bills.

The nation has been plagued by strikes as high inflation erodes the value of wages. Train staff will walk out again on Friday following months of industrial action across the private and public sectors.

The latest BoE hike is set to deepen the crunch in living standards as retail banks pass on the increase, resulting in higher repayments on loans, including mortgages.

At the same time, those who can afford to save will benefit for increased fixed returns on investments.

“Although it is good news that the Bank of England is no longer forecasting recession, today’s interest rate rise will obviously be very disappointing for families with mortgages,” said British finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

– Highest inflation in G7 –

Thursday’s news took British borrowing costs to a level last seen in October 2008, before rates were slashed during the global financial crisis.

The BoE has ramped up borrowing costs from a record-low of 0.1 percent in December 2021.

Its latest hike came one week after the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve implemented quarter-point rate increases as inflationary pressures ease only slightly in the eurozone and the United States.

UK annual inflation stood at 10.1 percent in March, the highest level in the Group of Seven richest nations.

Sunak and the BoE blame the high level in part on rises to pay and have urged employers to show restraint.

BoE chief economist Huw Pill recently stated that Britons need “to accept that they’re worse off and stop trying to maintain their real spending power by bidding up prices via higher wages”.

The Federal Government on Thursday revealed that Nigeria will spend N22.4 billion feeding inmates in correctional centres nationwide.

This is according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, who disclosed this at a two-day High Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Belgore stated that the fund is budgeted for in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

He said that there has been a steady rise in the population of the custodial centres with at least 80% of the inmates awaiting trial.

According to him, there are 244 custodial centres nationwide, with a 75,507-inmate population, thereby leading to 82 of them being overcrowded.

The total number of male inmates is 73,821 and female 1,686 female inmates, he noted.
Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has initiated extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja judicial division, against three suspects, Samson Ogoshi, his brother, Samuel, and Ezekiel Ejemeh, over exploitation of a minor and production of child pornography.

The Ogoshis and Ejemeh were indicted in a United States Federal Court on December 1, 2022, on charges of exploitation of minors and production of child pornography resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute child pornography and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet.

According to investigations, the suspects conspired to conduct sex-based extortion of minors and adults in the United States of America.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, revealed in a Monday night statement obtained by our correspondent.
Uwujaren said, “The trio, investigations also revealed, hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

“These pictures were then used in blackmailing the victims, thereby forcing them into making huge financial payments.
“Consequently, Samuel Ogoshi is charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of minors that resulted in the death of one Jordan DeMay, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.”

The trio is charged with conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing them to produce child pornographic images that they used to blackmail them.
Uwujaren added, “They are further charged with conspiracy to distribute child pornography, which borders on sending images to minors, their families and friends, as well as conspiracy to commit stalking through the Internet. Both offences carry a minimum of five years and maximum 20 years imprisonment.

“While the Ogoshis were arrested sometime in February 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos, Ezekiel was picked up in Nasarawa by operatives of the EFCC.”

Mrs Jane Nnamani, the wife of Nigeria’s former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani has passed on.

According to sources, she died in her early 60s after a minor surgery in Enugu.

News of her demise spread in the State on Monday, a development that has thrown her entire Amaechi country home into mourning.

Mrs Nnamani passed on at a time her husband, the former Senate President is reportedly out of the country. He is said to have travelled to the United States.

Senator Nnamani is yet to make an official announcement on the development.

The presidential election petition tribunal has adjourned for further pre-hearing, the case filed by the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi.

Obi and the LP filed a petition challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the election.

In the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, Livy Ozoukwu, lead counsel to LP and Obi, said Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election”.

Amongst other allegations, they claimed that Kashim Shettima, vice-president-elect, had a double nomination in contravention of the electoral act.

The petitioners are asking the tribunal to declare Obi winner of the presidential poll or alternatively, order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election.

At the pre-hearing session on Monday, Livy Uzoukwu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced an appearance for the petitioners.

Lawyers to the APC, Tinubu, and INEC informed the tribunal that they had filed separate responses to the questions raised by the petitioners in their processes.

Afterwards, the five-member panel led by Haruna Tsammani, adjourned till Wednesday for further pre-hearing.

The court directed parties in the petition to identify all the witness statements and documents they would rely on or object to during the hearing of the petitions.

While Lateef Fagbemi is the lawyer for the APC, Wole Olanipekun is representing Tinubu. Abubakar Mahmoud is the counsel to INEC.

The tribunal also adjourned the petition of the Action Peoples Party (APP) to Wednesday for further pre-hearing.

However, pre-hearing session for Atiku Abubakar’s petition and Allied People’s Movement (APM) is expected to hold on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, earlier at the court session, Action Alliance (AA) withdrew its petition against the victory of Tinubu.

Since there was no opposition from respondents in the petition, the panel dismissed the petition.

The supreme court in Abuja has fixed Tuesday to deliver judgment on the disputed July 16 governorship poll in Osun state.

A five-member panel of justices led by John Okoro fixed the date on Monday after all the parties involved adopted their written briefs in the matter.

The Osun governorship election tribunal, in January, held that Gboyega Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Consequently, the majority judgment of the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ademola Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Ademola Adeleke appealed the judgment.

On March 24, TheCable reported how a court of appeal sitting in Abuja reinstated Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.

Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by Adeleke, a three-member panel of justices held that the election tribunal erred when it ruled that the 1st and 2nd respondents (Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress) proved their allegation of over-voting.

In his appeal, Adeleke argued that there was no majority judgment as the second judge on the panel, Rabi Bashir, failed to write her opinion as required by section 294(2) of the constitution.

He also challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to preside over the petition on the grounds that it failed to consider the preliminary objection he filed against the petitioners.

The Federal Government says the agitation for more wages by workers is not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that it is a global issue.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige said this on Saturday after receiving the Business Day “Excellence in Public Service Award” in Abuja.

“The other day that I passed through Bailey, they said airport workers were on strike, only for four days. When I passed through London, the railway workers were on strike, only for three days. They are all demanding for more pay,” the ministry’s spokesman Olajide Oshundun quoted him as saying in a statement on Saturday.

“Workers’ demand for more pay is not peculiar to Nigeria but the problem everywhere in the world today as a result of global economic crunch, occasioned by COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and other things that make it look like everybody will die today.

“We will not die today. We only have to adjust both as individuals and as a country in order to survive the crunch,” he said.


But to tackle the tide of strikes in Nigeria, the minister recommended social dialogue, as recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

This for him, will handle several labour issues whether it is the demand for more wages or better conditions of service.

But he described that in Nigeria, certain people disobey the law instead of doing the right thing.

“In Nigeria, the man who implements the law is a very wicked and stingy man. He is seen as a man who does not understand what the law says. It is even worse in government,” Ngige added.

He warned that if Nigeria must make progress, people should not be made to look odd because they obey the laws of the land.

A Max Air aircraft reportedly crash-landed on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The aircraft was said to be arriving from Yola, Adamawa state when the incident occurred.

Faithful Hope-Ivbaz, spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed the incident to TheCable but declined to give further details.

According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred after the plane’s tyre burst into flames.

The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) at the airport reportedly put out the fire while the passengers were safely disembarked from the plane.

The runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.

Mike Ogirima, former president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), who witnessed the incident, said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.

“We thank God. We are still on the runway and pilot has reassured us. He has called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall,” Ogirima was quoted as saying.

“We bless God because we have witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”

The airline is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

In August 2022, an Owerri-bound plane belonging to Air Peace made an emergency landing in Lagos due to a bird strike.

The plane, which was en route to Owerri, could not land due to the impact of the bird strike, and as such, returned to Lagos for an emergency landing.

‘WE’LL CARRY OUT FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON PLANE’

The airline in a statement confirming the incident, said there were 143 passengers and one infant on board the plane which was to land in Abuja from Yola at 3 pm.

Max Air said the aircraft, experienced two tire bursts on landing in Abuja and the emergency team immediately responded to it.

“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound. The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time,” the statement reads.

“They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings.

“The aircraft tires are being replaced and the aircraft will taxi to the ramp for further investigations before being released for future flights.”

Kenyan President Williams Ruto has congratulated Bola Tinubu, president-elect, on his electoral victory.

Ruto congratulatory message was contained in a letter brought to Nigeria by Felix Koskei, head of Kenyan civil service and special envoy, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, an aide to Tinubu, said in a statement on Sunday.

Tinubu is expected to be inaugurated as Nigeria’s president on May 29.

Ruto said he looked forward to working with Tinubu to champion the cause of the African continent.

“On behalf of the government and people of the republic of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I convey greetings and congratulations to you on your victory, and to the people of the federal republic of Nigeria for their fortitude and maturity in ensuring the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections,” Ruto’s letter reads.

“I wish to applaud the close friendship which exists between our two countries.

“Kenya and Nigeria share values and aspirations in various sectors including political, socio-economic, cultural, diplomatic exchange and indeed hold commonality of views on many continental and international issues.

“I look forward to working with you to champion the cause of our continent, and to strengthen further the historical bonds and friendship that happily exist between our two countries and the people.”

Upon receipt of the letter, Tinubu said he intended on maintaining the relationship between Nigeria and Kenya.

“I intend to maintain that long, cordial relationship between our two countries and continue to pursue the aspiration of our forefathers towards building a stronger and more economically stable Africa,” the president-elect was quoted as saying

“If we exchange ideas and inter-relate, it will help our continent. Economic opportunities would be explored for Africa’s growth and security.”

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Saturday, opened up on why he wouldn’t want to be Chief of Staff to Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, saying, he would rather stay committed to contributing to the country’s development through useful counsel.

el-Rufai indicated further that he would also prefer to play big in the private sector in the next 22 days after handing over as governor.

He made this disclosure in an address during the commissioning of the Gombe Geographic Information Systems service centre, after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of 550 Shongo Homes and Gardens under the Family Homes Fund in Gombe State.

el-Rufai said, “I will be leaving in 22 days, but I will be available anytime you need a troublemaker. I will be in the private sector, I’m not going to be any chief of staff. I will take a break and advice people like governor Inuwa Yahaya, if they need it.”

Fielding answers from journalists on why he would not accept the “compensation” to serve despite his support to Tinubu, el-Rufai added, “I have not had the discussion with the president-elect and I don’t want to speculate. I read on the pages of newspapers and I see all kinds of portfolios assigned to me.

“I’m a committed Nigerian and I want to see my country make progress and whatever I can do to contribute to the development I will, but I don’t have to do it working in the government. People working in the private sector or civil society are contributing their own one way or the other, to the growth and development of our country. I will never stop working for Nigeria’s progress.”

The Kaduna State Governor who commended Gombe electorates for massively supporting and voting for Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya back into office, disclosed that the Tinubu team was initially troubled when the President-elect, polled second highest votes in Gombe.

“When the presidential result was announced and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came second, we were quite worried about the re-election of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, but I was very pleased that the people of Gombe have shown once again that they know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

“They know those that work for them they know those that promise and break their promises by being strategic and selective in their voting that they returned governor Inuwa Yahaya with overwhelming votes of over 130,000 votes for the election and even increased the number of APC members by two,” el-Rufai remarked.

He assured that Yahaya would do more than he did in his first tenure, stressing that the first term was hectic with its economic challenges; “I want to thank the people of Gombe State for re-electing my brother, my friend and in-law. I assure you that what you have seen in the last four years is just the beginning because the last four years have been very challenging for anyone in governance.

“In 2020, we had COVID-19, in 2022, the Ukraine war disrupted the global economy which affected our revenues and most states Federal Allocation dropped by about 30 per cent. It was with these challenges that Governor Inuwa Yahaya was able to build the infrastructural and social capital development that you have seen in the last four years. I want to assure you that the next four years will be better because there will be more resources and he has overwhelming support in Gombe State Assembly to do more,” he said.

The governor also commended the traditional institution for the overwhelming collaboration with the security agencies, pointing out that it had impacted the state’s record as one of the safest in the country.

“Far from when Gombe used to be a base for Boko Haram terrorists. Your royal highnesses, we continue to pray for you for God’s guidance, so that you continue to assist the State Government to keep Gombe safe,” he said.

el-Rufai who specifically noted that Inuwa Yahaya standardised the Gombe Geographic Information Systems, lauded, “It’s important to know how much land you have to allow development and increase revenue.”

The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has said the Northern Governors of the APC did not necessarily want the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to be President of Nigeria when they supported the power shift to the southern part of the country.

According to Lalong, who was also the Director General of Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign organisation, their push for a southern presidency was rather in order to promote the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria within the spirit of fairness, equity and justice which the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, stood for.

Lalong was speaking at the 9th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, said on Saturday

The Governor said, “When I led my colleagues – the Northern Governors – to push for power shift to the South, it was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President. Rather, we wanted to ensure that justice and fairness prevail in our nation for unity, peace and harmony. That is what we believe our revered father of blessed memory, Sir Ahmadu Bello, would do in such circumstances. Fortunately, the party delegates chose Asiwaju who was eventually accepted by Nigerians as he was unanimously elected”.

Lalong urged all Nigerians, both in the North and across the country, to support Tinubu as he takes on the mantle of leadership.

The governor noted that, because the late Sardauna lived a life of accommodation, tolerance, justice and fairness, his legacies have endured long after his demise and continue to inspire leadership in the region and country at large. According to him, the North is an important stakeholder in the Nigerian project and its contributions towards his election cannot be over emphasized.

“The Northern region needs serious attention in various sectors ranging from security, education, infrastructure, agriculture, economic revival and restoration of law and order in various areas that have been ravaged by insecurity.

“It is heartening to note that the Northern Governors Forum, under my leadership, has done a great deal of work on bringing our people together as one people with a common destiny,” Lalong added.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, said it was a privilege for his state to host the very important event, which reminds the region and the nation about the values that Sardauna lived and died for.

He said, although there have been challenges in the country after the demise of Sir Ahmadu Bello, some progress has been made which can be built upon to make the Northern region and Nigeria a better place.

Speaking on the topic “2023 Elections as Panacea for Search for Quality Leadership in Nigeria,” Kenyan Law Professor and pan Africanist, Patrick Lumumba, said the late Sardauna left behind several lessons for politicians which include his selflessness and sacrifice for the general good.

He said the question of unity and cohesion in Nigeria particularly after the 2023 general elections cannot be over emphasized because Nigeria plays a very key role in the stability of Africa being a giant in all ramifications.

Lumumba stressed that the sacrifices of founding fathers like Sardauna, who paid the supreme price, should not be left to go in vain but built upon for a greater Nigeria and Africa.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a message delivered by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, said it is important that Nigerians devote more attention to recruiting quality leaders who are capable of steering the nation in the right direction.

He also said the process of elections should also be looked at, and continuously improved upon to ensure that those who serve the people have their mandate and also enjoy their support.

Emir of Lafia, HRH Sidi Bage, said the lecture series is an opportunity to reflect on the dreams of Sardauna but also a way of putting critical national and regional issues on the front burner.

He thanked Governor Lalong, who as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, worked hard to ensure that the traditional Institution is given a place in the governance of Nigeria much as it was during the time of the Sardauna.

Ahead of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, the State House Management has begun renovating and refurbishing sections of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Saturday PUNCH observed on Friday that the concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.

One of our correspondents observed on Thursday the delivery of new furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber.

Months earlier, the management had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas, which were once freeways.

A senior State House official, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the maintenance was part of the tasks carried out by the Presidential Transition Council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

On February 14, 2023, the Federal Government inaugurated the 22-member Presidential Transition Council ahead of the handover to the incoming government.

The committee comprises Cabinet Affairs, General Service Affairs, Economic and Political Affairs, Office of the SGF and State House permanent secretaries, as well as the National Security Adviser, among others.

In April, the President-elect nominated 14 more persons to join the transition council.

The official said, “The changes and upgrades we are doing are part of broader maintenance works. Some are routine, while others, like the painting, are done when the Villa is to host a new occupant.

“These follow the directives of the transition committee, which the SGF is in charge of. The card readers have since been changed. Those are just routine maintenance done when the old ones have passed their active life.

“Repainting is required because, over the years, the State House wildlife accommodates monkeys that roam free and stain these white walls. The bats we have here also deposit their droppings on the walls.”

Asked for the total amount earmarked for the works, the official said, “We don’t go outside the budget allocated to the State House, but the transition committee is shouldering any special cost.”

Since 2016, N3.05bn has been earmarked for “maintenance services” at the State House. These include maintenance of office furniture, office buildings and residential quarters, among others.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who took to his Twitter page on Friday, posted a photo where a man was seen painting the external wall of the Villa with white and green paints.

He noted that the painting was being done in order to welcome the incoming President.

Shehu wrote under the picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”

In June 2015, Buhari finally moved into the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, almost three weeks after his inauguration.

He could not move into his official residence immediately after inauguration because renovation works were still going on at the Villa.

Before moving into Aso Rock, Buhari had shuttled between the Defence House in Maitama and his personal residence in the Asokoro district.

In August 2017, Buhari, who resumed duties after a 103-day medical vacation abroad, operated from his official residence until the completion of the renovation of his office.

Shehu, had said the President’s office needed renovation because of its devastation by rodents during Buhari’s long period of absence, adding that rodents had caused a lot of damage to the furniture and air conditioning units.

His predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had in May 2015 relocated to the Glass House in the sprawling Aso Presidential Villa to allow for its renovation prior to Buhari’s swearing in.

Shortly after the announcement of that year’s presidential election result, Jonathan and his wife, Patience, had moved their personal belongings out of the official residence to their Otuoke, Bayelsa State residence.

Just like his predecessors, Tinubu is expected to have input in the furniture that will be installed in his official residence and office as well as the paint colours, which will be done to his taste, but the minor repairs will be done on some parts of the house, while cleaning and repainting of the entire residence with white paint will be done.

In the 2023 Appropriation Act, a total of [b]N148,168,464,339 was allocated for the Presidency. Out of this, N14,808,479,660 was allocated to the State House headquarters, a sum of N3,441,177,028 was budgeted for State House operation of the President, while N1,555, 447, 054 was allocated on the State House operations for the Vice-President.

A total of N10,108,606,550 was budgeted for projects in the State House headquarters from which a sum of N19, 382, 375 was allocated for the purchase of sporting equipment for the State House Sports Club, while N14, 773, 412 was budgeted for procurement of equipment for the central gymnasium renovation.

For the renovation works on eight blocks of 16 two-bedroom flats at the State House security quarters, N 132,303,624 was set aside, while N87,255,745 was budgeted for the provision of the Electronic Document Management System.

A sum of N150,000,000 was also set aside for the replacement of telecommunications infrastructure at the villa; N25,023,505 for the upgrade of the State House library, and N7,562,000 for digital medical references for the library.[/b]

Rehabilitation of animal enclosure/procurement of vet lab equipment took N35,251,776, while the sum of N130,076,825 was allocated for the conversion/upgrade of the villa ranch and construction of wildlife conservation capture.

A total of N16,077,800 was approved for the purchase of plant nursery equipment for the production of local flowers for routine floral arrangement, irrigation and upgrade of helipad grass field, and N35,725,000 for systemic collection and assessment of data about projects and programmes to aid the management to make decisions. But a sum of N1,904,388,461 was also budgeted for the phased replacement of vehicles and spares during the year.

On annual routine maintenance of mechanical/ electrical installations of the villa, a sum of N7,200,045,297 was budgeted to be spent, and N99,656,180 on the purchase of various office equipment for the admin, finance and accounts, works, ICT, procurement, PRS and audit departments.

A sum of N251,084,550 was also budgeted for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, CCU vehicles, platforms trucks, SUVs, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles.

The Presidency had proposed N5.23bn for the general rehabilitation and repair of fixed assets in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.

A total of N5,176,045,297 was budgeted for the rehabilitation/repair of office buildings, while N55,056,446 was earmarked for residential buildings.

In the 2021 proposal, N4,854,381,299 was set aside for the annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations in the Villa.

The construction of the presidential wing in the State House Medical Centre was expected to gulp N21,974,763,310.

Following the creation of the Federal Capital Territory in 1976, the Akinola Aguda House (formally christened on October 1, 1983) was originally conceived as a presidential lodge and guesthouse complex – comprising a temporary official residence for the President as well as guesthouses for visiting Heads of State – during the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, according to information on the State House website.

In October 1982 the Aguda House hosted the first ever formal cabinet meeting held outside Lagos, only days after Abuja hosted Nigeria’s Independence anniversary celebration for the first time.

In 1985, the construction of a new presidential residence commenced and in 1991, the Aso Rock Presidential Villa was completed and former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, became the first Head of State to occupy it, moving in on December 12, 1991.

Upon completion of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa the Aguda House became the Vice-Presidential Complex, and has remained so till date — apart from the period between 1999 and 2007 when the Vice-President lived in a residence that was later transferred to the judiciary as official quarters for the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

In 2010, construction of a new vice-presidential residence commenced. The residence has yet to be completed; the Buhari administration has said it is not a priority, and that Vice-President Osinbajo will continue to live in Aguda House.

Today, the Presidential Complex, located in the Three Arms Zone of the Federal Capital Territory, consists of the main presidential villa (office and residence of the President, and offices of the Vice-President and wife of the President), the State House Conference Centre, State House annexe, and the Akinola Aguda House.

Tinubu’s camp reacts
A source in the camp of the President-elect told one of our correspondents that it was the prerogative of Tinubu to decide how he wants the renovation.

He, however, could not confirm if Tinubu was already making input into the renovation.

The source stated, “That should be the duty of the permanent secretary in the State House. I have no knowledge if the renovation has started or if the President-elect is being carried along to ensure it meets his taste.

“But by and large, the new President will determine what he wants in place. They won’t change anything for him without his knowledge. That also depends on what he wants.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed a fire incident at its office in Enugu State.

One of the buildings within the Zonal Command was consumed by the inferno.

EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren issued a statement Friday afternoon.

“The incident which occurred at about 12.30 am Friday, was triggered by a surge in public power supply.

“The ensuing inferno was later put out through the combined efforts of the Enugu State and Federal Fire Service,” he said.

The spokesperson added that no life was lost in the incident.

The Federal Government on Friday said it successfully evacuated all Nigerians that were stranded in the crisis-ridden Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, said this when he[b] received the second batch of 130 evacuees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.[/b]

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the evacuees arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the airport at exactly 3:10 pm local time on board TARCO aircraft B373-300 from Port Sudan.

“I’m happy to announce that we have successfully removed everybody that needs to be removed out of Khartoum none of your colleagues today is in Khartoum, all of them have moved.

“You were the first batch to move out of Khartoum and sent to the Egyptian border, we still have a few of them, while some have already arrived in Nigeria.

“Though, majority of them will be arriving in the next eight hours or more, So by that time, no Nigerian would have been left in the Egyptian border,” Gwarzo said.

He said the second batch of the evacuees was airlifted from Port Sudan.

“But we have made adequate arrangements for everybody to be airlifted within the next few days.

“We have almost 1, 700 people over there and we have made adequate arrangements for flights to bring them back home.

“The good news is that no life has been lost” he said.

Gwarzo said, among the 130 evacuees 2 are men while the rest are women and children.

He assured the public that team will continue to prioritise women, children, and the ailing ones among them.

“We are going to continue to prioritise the return of women and children until every one of them is out” Gwarzo said.

He, however, explained that the N100,000 stipend given to the evacuees was a life-saving support to the people coming from a distress situation.

“Some of you may have encountered difficulties or all of you, but it will soon be over you will be reunited with your families and the trauma will be over.

“So, we welcome you back home and we look forward to peace returning not only in Sudan but in the whole of Africa and the world at large,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency said all Nigerians that needed evacuation had been evacuated to Port Sudan and Egypt waiting to be transported to Nigeria.

“We have about 800 evacuees at the Egyptian side, heading towards Aswan, as we already have aircraft on the ground.

“We have the Max Air with a capacity of 560 passengers and Azman Air with a capacity of 400 passengers, we have also activated Air Peace and we are waiting for their feedback today.

“Air Peace would be taking two flights out of Port Sudan, while Taco Airline will continue with four flights as they promised us today.

“The only problem we had was diplomatic issues which had been settled, as of now, all of them are safe in Port Sudan and Egyptian side,” he said.

Speaking further, Mrs Catherine Udoifa, Director, Migration Affairs, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said the commission would also be providing psycho-social support to the returnees.

“We have started profiling the students among them, we will do some referrals and liaise with the Ministry of Education to find placements for them in schools where necessary.

“We have a team that will provide psychosocial support to all the students and follow up on them to ensure that they are properly settled in and able to leave a normal life,” he said.

One of the returnees, Ms Sumaiya Yusuf, a student of Sudan International University, appreciated the federal government and all the agencies involved in their successful return.

“The whole journey took us a week, going to the pick-up venues, waiting for the buses, staying in the sun, we were really tired.

“However, we were not happy with the communication method of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan at some point because, we were stuck on the road to Port Sudan for like 24 hours, but I am happy to be back home,” she said. (NAN)

The Federal Government has blamed heavy rainfall and gridlock for the delay in completing the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by end of April.

The Director, Federal High Ways, South-West at the Ministry of Works and Housing, Ademola Kuti, disclosed this on Channels Television’s New At 10 on Sunday.

After failing the meet up with the December 2022 deadline for the completion of the road project, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola had set a new completion date of April 30.

Kuti said that the April deadline was not met because of rain and traffic.

“The earlier completion date of 30th of April which is today (Sunday), we were unable to meet that target because of some factors, majorly the heavy rain which we experienced since March and April and of course the unexpected heavy traffic,” he said.

He, however, assured motorists plying the route that the Federal Government is determined to complete the project but said he can’t give an exact date of completion as he can’t predict the weather.

“So, as we move into the next month (May), we expect that the rain will still be heavy and it will be a bit difficult but what we want to assure motorists is that we are determined is determined to complete this project, we are fully on ground.

“As a matter of fact, we opened access in the OPIC axis, that is from the Kara Bridge to the Long Bridge and what is left is just about a kilometre as you enter Lagos and then maybe another two kilometres as you are leaving Lagos and we are fully determined with enough men on ground to achieve this,” Kuti stated.

John Onaiyekan, former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, says[b] “it doesn’t make much sense”[/b] for President-elect Bola Tinubu to be sworn in before the conclusion of the election tribunal.

Tinubu is expected to be sworn in as president on May 29. His victory is being challenged in court by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

On Wednesday, the presidential election tribunal fixed May 8 for the hearing of the petitions.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Onaiyekan said the system of electioneering in the nation should be reviewed, noting that it would produce winners who don’t have the shadow of the court lurking behind their victory.

“There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it,” he said.

“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.

“I know it has happened with governors but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases. I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.

“It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.

“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested.”

The national assembly has directed Amos Ojo, its clerk, to transmit a bill which approves a uniform retirement age for judicial officers to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The constitutional bill is seeking to extend the retirement age of high court judges from 65 to 70 years.

The bill was passed on Tuesday after Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy senate president, sponsored a motion on the matter.

The motion was entitled ‘Passage of constitution (fifth) alteration bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), 2023″.

While moving the motion, Omo-Agege, chair of the senate ad hoc committee on the amendment of the constitution, said the Sokoto state assembly had only just forwarded its resolution on the bill.

“Recall that the Sokoto state house of assembly was among the state houses of assembly that were yet to forward their resolution,” he said.

“The Sokoto state house of assembly has forwarded its resolution; and convinced that with the approval of Sokoto state house of assembly, the constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), has met the provisions of section 9(2) of the constitution, for passage.”

The motion was approved after it was put to a vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Lawan said the bill, if approved and signed into law by the president, would “be part of our legacy as the ninth national assembly”.

The retirement age of justices in the court of appeal and supreme court is already pegged at 70.

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and now senator-elect for the Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District, Godswill Akpabio, on Sunday in Abuja, informed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of his intent to be President of the 10th Senate.

Akpabio who disclosed this after meeting with the President at his official residence at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, also promised to work closely with the incoming administration in the interest of the youth.

The meeting was held only a few hours after another Senate presidential aspirant, Abdulaziz Yari, visited Buhari and urged the governing All Progressives Congress to allow the North to produce the next Senate helmsman having contributed substantial votes to President-elect Bola Tinubu’s victory.

When asked about his plans if elected to man the third highest office in the land, Akpabio said, “A lot of reforms! Akpabio is known as an uncommon transformer. Akpabio is known as a man who is result-oriented.

“You will recall that when I was a governor, I brought a lot of innovations to bear, infrastructurally, educationally, socially and otherwise and also in terms of human empowerment.

“I intend to bring a lot of reforms into the Senate, in the way and manner we do business, to assist the next administration to succeed. We will be very thorough in doing everything; we’ll bring about loyalty to the Constitution, we’ll bring about loyalty to Nigerians.”

The former Akwa Ibom State Governor said his presidency would tackle issues through legislation to empower Nigerians, particularly the youth.

He noted that, “With the restiveness that we are seeing across the nation, we’ll do our best to make good laws and to assist the administration to bring about policies that will empower the youths of the country.

“I made that promise even on the convention day that being a man who used to turn boys into men and who still does, I will like to work with the incoming President, who has also shown that example in Lagos State as a governor and thereafter as a leader of the APC in Nigeria.

“He has continued to turn boys into men and as the President of the country, after his swearing-in, I expect that he continues to do so.”

Pressed for specifics, Akpabio said he would ensure the kind of empowerment that restricts the instrumentalisation of youths for criminality and political gains.

“So, we’ll get them working and I believe that with the help of the Almighty, that both the National Assembly and the Executive will do a lot for the youths of this country,” he added.

On his consultations with other lawmakers and the leadership of the APC, he said, “Yes, we have been doing that, we’ve done a lot of consultations and they’ve been very positive and well received.

“It’s almost like a woman who is already eight months pregnant, just a month to deliver.”

https://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Electric-Bus.jpg


Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Sunday, said the acquisition of the buses is in partnership with Oando PLC, adding that Lagosians can expect cleaner public transportation system.

He said, “With the ability to travel 280km at full charge, taking into account our unique travel times in Lagos, our electric buses are a game-changer. With an average daily usage of 200km by existing BRTs, there is no need to fear that the buses can stop while in transit.

“Our new electric buses will not only reduce carbon emissions but will also increase efficiency. This means that Lagosians can say goodbye to high fuel costs and hello to cost-efficient transportation.

“We shall be running a pilot scheme over the next few months to gather sufficient data required to analyse the operational efficiencies relative to the current BRT buses to further improve our public transport service.

“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to creating a sustainable future for Lagos.

“We understand the need for charging stations to power our electric buses, which is why we are partnering with Oando Clean Energy Limited to strategically place Universal Chargers at public places like malls and gas stations. We also plan to establish an Assembly Plant for Electric Buses in the near future.

“This is just the beginning of our efforts to transform Lagos into an even smarter city as we continue to increase our fleet of electric vehicles, further modernizing the Lagos transportation system.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the international community to impose a visa ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and his family over what they claimed is the Nigerian leader’s role in the rigging of the 2023 presidential elections.

PDP’s comment came a day after a statement by Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, quoted Buhari as saying that the opposition failed to win the exercise due to its non-tactical abilities.

But in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday, the PDP described Buhari’s comments as “unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice”.

“Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions including visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately after he vacates office on May 29, 2023,” the statement read.


“This demand for sanction is in line with President Buhari’s request on February 17, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium, wherein he called on the European Union (EU) to impose ‘weighty sanctions’ on those engaged in ‘unconstitutional change of governments’ as well as those influencing the ‘process and outcomes of elections’.”

While alleging that the APC rigged the election, the PDP claimed that the presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units and announcement of fabricated figures.

The opposition party also claimed that the election was won by its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, which is why the party is already at the tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate.

“Nigerians and the International Community are therefore appalled, horrified, and scandalized by the careless, unguarded and subjudice comment by President Buhari in which he attempted to justify the rigging of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election by the APC under his watch.


“This statement reveals the utter disregard that General Buhari has for our Constitutional democracy, judiciary, and the will of the Nigerian people as expressed at the February 25, 2023, Presidential election,” the PDP said.

The statement further read, “It is, to say the least, reprehensible for Mr. President to posture and gloat over the trampling of the Will of Nigerian, blame the opposition for being overconfident and, according to him, for not being ‘tactical,’ perhaps enough to outwit the violence, brutality, threats, suppression of voters, rigging and election manipulations by the APC and the government which he heads.

“It is unpardonable that President Buhari, who swore to uphold the laws of our country and made several commitments to the world to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent election, is rather in approval of election rigging through manifest compromise of INEC system and wide-spread alteration, falsification and switching of election results in favour of his rejected party, the APC.

“President Buhari is practically gloating over the undermining of democracy by INEC which refused to transmit directly results from the Polling Units to its Server/Website and announce same, in total violation of the express provisions of Section 64 Sub-section 4 (a) (b) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“More distressing is that after superintending over the rigging of the election, President Buhari, by his subjudice comments apparently seeks to bully, blackmail and influence the judiciary and the outcome of the petition pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, so as to allow his Party, the APC, and its candidate to ‘grab, snatch and run’ with the people’s mandate.

“The PDP in clear terms tells President Buhari and his APC that our Party and candidate, Atiku Abubakar, clearly won the February 25, 2023 presidential election as shown by the authentic results from the majority of polling units across the country

“The PDP did not lose the presidential election as claimed by President Buhari and we are not willing to surrender the mandate freely given to our Party by the people irrespective of the threats, bullying, and manipulation by the APC-led administration.

“Nigerians believed and expected President Buhari to leave a legacy of a free, fair, and credible election based on his numerous undertakings and promises but he is leaving an ignoble, dishonorable, and disgraceful legacy of enabling and superintending over the worst election conducted in the history of democracy in Nigeria. President Buhari, history will never be kind to you!

“It is instructive to state that part of the electoral process is the adjudication by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which is considering petitions arising from the election. President Buhari, by his subjudice statement, is clearly interfering in the electoral process ostensibly to influence the outcome and undermine the constitutionally laid down procedures for change of government.”

It also demanded “an open investigation into the roles played by President Buhari in the undermining of democracy in Nigeria in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections.

“President Buhari needs to advised to be circumspect and allow the judicial process to proceed without further undue interference and bullying by him.

“The PDP appreciates Nigerians for standing firm in defending our democracy at this critical time. As a Party, we will never relent in our determination to retrieve our Presidential mandate through the Tribunal no matter the machination of the APC.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development have confirmed that the first batch of 13 buses conveying 637 stranded Nigerian students had arrived safely at Aswan borders in Egypt.

They also explained how $1.2m was negotiated to hire buses to convey the evacuees.

The necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria, according to them, was ongoing.

A joint statement by the Permanent Secretaries of the ministries indicated that the movement of the second batch of 29 buses would commence yesterday.

The statement advised evacuees to be at the designated locations with only one piece of luggage.

It explained that contrary to insinuations on social media, embassy staff were very much on the ground in Khartoum to coordinate the evacuation exercise to the very end.

The statement stressed that the outcry over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise was uncalled for.

According to the statement, the amount was negotiated in a condition of war and there were competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

The Federal Government said yesterday that hundreds of Nigerians who were evacuated from war-torn Sudan and were to be airlifted from Egypt back to Nigeria yesterday were stranded as they were not allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival on Thursday evening.

Nigerians in Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued yesterday by Mr Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM in Abuja said Nigerians were among the over 7,000 nationals denied entry by the Egyptian authorities who were insisting on visas by Africans to transit to their countries.

The Commission Chairman, therefore, called on “those concerned with passages and movement of persons and services along the borders of Sudan to create a humane condition for them to have access to their various destinations”. She also said the Nigerian mission in Egypt had been working on the issue and appealed to the Egyptian authorities to kindly allow the travellers to transit to their final destinations in various countries in Africa.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian students who were being conveyed to the Egyptian border in buses contracted by the Federal Government had raised an alarm on Wednesday that there were stranded in the middle of the desert as the drivers complained they had not been paid for their services

The crisis in Sudan reportedly started on April 15 between the Sudanese army and paramilitary RSF, both headed by army generals.

NiDCOM and NEMA at different times announced that about 1,600 Nigerian evacuees from Sudan were expected in Abuja on Friday. Officially, there are about 5,500 Nigerian students who are expected to arrive from Sudan in the evacuation that commenced on Wednesday.

According to NEMA, 13 buses conveyed the first batch of the evacuees from Khartoum in Sudan to Egypt from where they will be airlifted to Nigeria.

Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told an online publication, PREMIUM TIMES that, “As of 0700hrs on 28th April 2023, nine buses have arrived at the Sudanese side of the Arkin border, and four buses have also arrived at the Wadi Halfa border. They are waiting for clearance from the Sudanese end to cross to the Egyptian side.

“Wadi Halfa border is the one approved for our people, and this was communicated to our Mission in Khartoum. However, the fact that some of the drivers chose to go to another border post (about 200 km) away from the approved entry point, we have raised another team to go there and assist.”

The source added that there are thousands of people at the borders and as such there will be delays in getting Nigerians into Egypt. In a similar tone, the source at NiDCOM noted that there are “not so serious” diplomatic hitches at the border and the Nigerian embassy in Egypt is trying to get diplomatic cover for the students.

President Muhammadu Buhari has received the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, at the State House.

The outgoing and incoming presidents prayed together at the Presidential Mosque on Friday, after which the President-elect departed without speaking to the media.

Earlier, Buhari also received Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Tinubu’s visit to Buhari comes less than 24 hours after the President argued the opposition’s defeat in the February 25 presidential election was as a result of “overconfidence”.

He added that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on the other hand, blended confidence with caution, saying, “We worked hard and won.”


While receiving the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by the Chairman, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Buhari said, “They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC.

“Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us.

“A combination of over confidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?”

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Wednesday, blessed and prayed for God’s continuous support for the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

This was made known in a statement signed and released by the spokesperson for the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, which was shared on his Facebook page.

Pastor Adeboye who was accompanied by his wife and senior pastors of the RCCG while attending the inauguration of the Jennifer Etuh Medical Centre held at Ifewara, urged Adeleke to continue to govern with the fear of God noting that as long as the governor continued to uphold the path of God, he would continue to earn the favour of God.

Adeleke had earlier described how his governorship ambition began with the anointing and prayers of Pastor Adeboye.

He said, “I remember Baba Adeboye anointed and prayed for me. His prayer for me is answered and I am here today as the Governor of Osun State.

“Baba has again prayed for me and re-anointed me. I will continue to toe the path of God. I govern by the fear of God. I will not derail as my governorship is anointed by God”, Adeleke declared.

Adeleke also said the reason he continued to sing and worship God on every occasion was a result of his agreement with God.

He said, “When Baba Adeboye was anointing me, he asked me to continue to sing and praise God. So when you see me dancing and praising God, that is my promise to my God as instructed by God. That is my secret.”

Adeboye while inaugurating the centre described the ultra-modern multi-billion naira medical and vocational centre at Ifewara as a divine intervention in favour of the community while also praying to God to bless smaller towns without the possibility of government medical and educational interventions.

Pastor Adeboye while praying for the Etuh family and the repose of the soul of the late Jennifer, commended many human intervention programmes intended to impact people’s lives promoted and supported by the Etuh family. He urgef well-meaning Nigerians to extend hands of fellowship to their kith and kin.

Adeleke who was accompanied by his brother, Dr Deji Adeleke, the Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, Sunday Bisi, Adewale Egbedun, Niyi Owolade, Rev Bunmi Jenyo and others later inaugurated the medical and vocational centre.

The Jennifer Etuh Foundation which is responsible for building the medical centre is inspired by the late Mrs Etuh who before her death instructed that such medical centres should be built in six zones of the federation. The Ifewara Medical Centre is the third of the planned medical centres.