There are indications that former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye has dumped his ally and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki for Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 Presidential election.
In a video that surfaced online, Melaye explained why he opted to be on the side of Atiku, a Presidential candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and not Saraki.
Speaking at an interaction between Atiku and some Senators in Abuja, Melaye explained that he now supports candidates and not aspirants.
Melaye disclosed that his ex-colleagues in the Senate had wondered why he is supporting Atiku’s presidential ambition.
Obviously dismissing Saraki, Melaye said: “When I got in here, my ex-colleague said I thought you will not be here but somewhere else.
“And I told him that I have stopped following aspirants. I now follow candidates.”
The former lawmaker’s remark was received with much delight of the audience, including Atiku.
The video was shared by a Twitter user @Mo Atiku.
Melaye and Saraki are said to be very close pals in their days at the Senate.
Meanwhile, both Saraki and Atiku have declared their intentions to run for the Presidency in 2023.
Exclusive- Nord Stream 2 owner considers insolvency after pipeline halt, sanctions -sources
(Reuters) - The Swiss-based company which built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is considering filing for insolvency, two sources familiar with the situation said, as it attempts to settle claims ahead of a U.S. sanction deadline for other entities to stop dealings with it.
The United States sanctioned Nord Stream 2 AG last week after Russia recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine prior to its invasion of the country, which has prompted a wave of economic sanctions by the West.
Nord Stream 2 AG, which is registered in Switzerland and owned by Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom, last year completed the $11 billion project which was designed to double the capacity to pump gas from Russia to Germany.
The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks about a potential insolvency are confidential, said that Nord Stream 2 AG has been working with a financial adviser on clearing some of its liabilities and could formally begin insolvency proceedings in a Swiss court as soon as this week.
Nord Stream 2 AG did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Gazprom declined to comment.
The 1,230 km (767 mile) pipeline had not begun commercial operations because it was pending certification in Germany, which last week put this process on hold as a result of the escalating Ukraine crisis.
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued an executive order on Feb. 23 authorising "the wind down of transactions involving Nord Stream 2 AG" or "any entity in which Nord Stream 2 AG owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest" by March 2.
Gazprom paid half the cost of building Nord Stream 2, with the remainder of the $11 billion pipeline project financed by British oil and gas major Shell, Austria's OMV, France's Engie and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall DEA.
Shell, Engie, and Wintershall DEA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. OMV declined to comment.
A spokesperson for Uniper said the company does not currently have any such information when asked about a possible insolvency filing by Nord Stream 2 AG.
Swiss-registered Nord Stream 2 AG is also terminating the contracts of workers, the sources said. It was unclear if all entities related to Nord Stream 2 AG would be shut down or how Gazprom plans to proceed with the pipeline maintenance.
Switzerland's Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said in an interview with Swiss radio service RTS on Monday that all Nord Stream staff, more than 140 employees, who worked for the company in the Swiss city of Zug had been fired.
Germany, which gets half its gas from Russia, had backed Nord Stream 2 to diversify energy supplies for Europe, but the project faced opposition within the European Union and from the United States for increasing the region's gas dependence on Russia and allowing Moscow to reduce volumes through Ukraine, for which it has to pay a transit fee.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, several large companies, including oil majors, said they would exit their Russian operations, including Shell, which said it will no longer be involved in Nord Stream 2 among other investments.
Hungary will not allow the transit of lethal weapons to Ukraine through its territory, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday.
The Hungarian government, which nurtured a close relationship with the Kremlin over the past decade, has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and agreed to European sanctions. It also signed off on activating the European Peace Facility, an instrument that allows the EU to finance the purchase and delivery of weapons.
But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — who is facing a tough parliamentary election on April 3 — has insisted over the past days that his country must “stay out” of the conflict and that Hungary itself will not supply weapons to its neighbor.
On Monday, Szijjártó explained the move to go a step further and not permit deliveries of weapons to transit through Hungarian territory as a matter of national security.
“This decision is required in order to guarantee the security of Hungary and the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia,” the minister said, referring to a region of western Ukraine that is home to Hungarian-speaking communities.
“The reason for making this decision is that such deliveries might become targets of hostile military action,” he added.
Hungary will nevertheless deliver humanitarian assistance — including food and water — to western Ukraine, the minister noted.
Szijjártó’s announcement that Hungary will not allow weapons to transit through Hungary was met with dismay among security experts.
“In case of an escalation of the war to the level of Russia attacking NATO countries, Hungary has an obligation to join NATO forces and expose itself to Russian attacks anyways,” said one former Hungarian official.
“No European country can stay low in face of this war when the future of the European security architecture is at stake,” the former official said. “If we let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin reach his goal, we risk the security of Hungary and Europe way beyond the level we do with this minimal contribution to countering this aggression.”
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has officially declared to run for President in 2023.
Sowore is expected to contest on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC).
He was the party’s candidate in the 2019 presidential election.
“SOWORE FOR President,” the activist posted on Facebook on Tuesday.
Sowore had last week said he would make his 2023 presidential declaration in March.
He had also accused the Muhammadu Buhari-led government of arresting him and filing new charges against him to stop his declaration.
A team of armed policemen who laid siege to the entrance of the Court of Appeal in Abuja had last Thursday arrested Sowore over a frivolous petition by a former member of the House of Representatives, Ned Nwoko.
He was taken to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, otherwise known as Abattoir, located at Guzape.
Speaking after his release, the activist said he was optimistic about becoming the next president of the country and not being threatened by anyone.
“I knew this is what’s going to happen and I’m not surprised that that’s what they did. But when we got here, I made it clear to everybody, all of the police officers involved that I can’t write any statement and I won’t accept any kind of bail condition attached to my release,” he had said.
“They took me to their detention, when they were tired; they came and call me that I should be going home. So I’m heading home now, no reason to worry, we know why this is happening, they are afraid of the future, they are afraid Sowore will declare very soon and become the president of Nigeria; you can’t stop me.”
President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime says Nigeria is ready to sanction Russia for invading Ukraine once the United Nations “adopts and imposes sanctions” on the country.
“On imposing (the) sanction, this is going to be a collective action. The United Nations has to act,” disclosed Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama in an interview with Channels TV on Monday night.
He added, “We are going to act and engage within the framework of the United Nations. So if the United Nations adopts and imposes sanctions against Russia, we will comply with UN’s resolution.”
Mr Onyeama condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to wage war against Ukraine.
“We made that very clear; we condemned it. First of all, military force is not the solution. We have spoken up about the territorial integrity that we recognise the integrity of Ukraine,” insisted the minister. “Nigeria’s position on the resolution is very clear, that we do not condone this military intervention in another country.”
Thousands of Nigerians have been caught in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the federal government frantic to get them out of Ukraine.
It directed Nigerians fleeing Ukraine to head to Hungarian or Romanian borders for easy access.
“For now, movement to the Hungarian Zahony border and Romanian Suceava, Tulcea, Satu Mare County, and Maramures borders is advised, as they approved visa-free access to all Nigerians coming from Ukraine and arrangement for accommodation and feeding before evacuation is arranged,” said permanent secretary to the ministry of foreign affairs Gabriel Aduda in a statement.
Nigerian embassies in Romania, Hungary, and Poland have received over 256 stranded Nigerians from Ukraine while awaiting the arrival of 200 more in the coming days, said Mr Aduda.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine last Thursday, with neighbouring Belarus effectively used as a staging post for the Russian military.
IPOB & Biafrans allover the world, yesterday 27.2.2022 resolved & gave vote of no confidence on DOS. What this mean in practice is that no order from the DOS will henceforth be obeyed in Biafraland until MNK is out. Those who want to enforce any order from them will be resisted.
Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and Protocol 1 (1977) of the Geneva Convention relating to the Crime of Apartheid, both Poland and Ukraine have spent all day committing war crimes against African students.
Never added a Ukraine flag to my bio, and never will.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said 137 Ukrainians have been killed after his country came under a large-scale attack from Russian forces.
"Today we have lost 137 of our heroes, our citizens. Military and civilian," Zelenskyy said in a video address, adding that another 316 people had been wounded.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was "left alone" to fight Russia, adding Russian "sabotage groups" were in capital Kiev.
"We have been left alone to defend our state," he said in a video address. "Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone."
A sombre-looking Zelensky added: "The enemy's sabotage groups have entered Kiev" and urged residents to be vigilant and observe curfew rules.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports that due to the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the departure of a certain category of citizens from Ukraine is temporarily restricted.
In particular, male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine.
Such a rule will apply for the period of martial law.
We ask citizens to take this information into account.
Police Arrest: Buhari-led Government Afraid I’ll Soon Declare For 2023 Presidency – Sowore
A team of armed policemen who laid siege at the entrance of the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Thursday arrested Sowore over a frivolous petition by a former member of the House of Representatives, Ned Nwoko.
Human rights activist and Amnesty International designated Prisoner of Conscience, Omoyele Sowore says he was arrested because the Nigerian government is afraid he will soon declare to run for 2023 presidency.
A team of armed policemen who laid siege at the entrance of the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Thursday arrested Sowore over a frivolous petition by a former member of the House of Representatives, Ned Nwoko.
He was taken to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, otherwise known as Abattoir, located at Guzape. Speaking after his release, the activist said he is optimistic of becoming the next president of the country and not threatened by anyone.
“I knew this is what’s going to happen and I’m not surprised that that’s what they did. But when we got here, I made it clear to everybody, all of the police officers involved that I can’t write any statement and I won’t accept any kind of bail condition attached to my release,” he said.
“They took me to their detention, when they were tired; they came and call me that I should be going home. So I’m heading home now, no reason to worry, we know why this is happening, they are afraid of the future, they are afraid Sowore will declare very soon and become the president of Nigeria; you can’t stop me.”
War in Ukraine because according to Russia, the Ukrainian authorities continue to commit genocide against the separatists Eastern Ukrainians. I can’t condemn Russia because same will happen to Nig soon for the sake of Biafra freedom. Nig continue to commit genocide against Biafra
Ukraine-NATO/World v Russia. I stand with those who’s rights to freedom has been infringed by the world powers. I can’t be fighting for Freedom of Biafra from terrorists Nig and condemn those fighting to be free from oppressors in Ukraine, it doesn’t matter who came to help them
LeoDeKing: Specialist in Bashir's comment analysis, well done.
Read the comments na. #GEJisComing has been trending. Someone asked who he would choose between GEJ(PDP) and Tinubu (APC). He's an APC member. So who do you expect him to choose? GEJ? LOL! Use Common sense.
FreeStuffsNG: Correct answer! #Iyanumashele May God continue to protect, bless and favour Asiwaju Tinubu.
I pray that Asiwaju Tinubu will continue to be favoured in the eyes and minds of patriotic Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria.
His "pick" is based on 2 options before him. Of course, being an APC member, he'd naturally go for Tinubu. This doesn't mean he's endorsed Tinubu. Lol. He merely endorsed APC.
Just say lemme post this before una begin flood the internet with "Buhari's Aide Endorses Tinubu" clickbait titles.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan's spokesman, Reno Omokri has replied people raising rumors about Presidnet Jonathan Joning the APC to contest in the 2023 presidential election
National Convention must be held very close to Presidential primaries so that it will be too late for our Iragbiji uncle and his team to leave the party-or if they leave,their departure will have minimal effect.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has settled for a shift in date of its national convention following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, DAILY POST has learnt.
DAILY POST gathered Sunday night that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, chaired by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Bala Buni, met and took a decision to postpone the party’s national convention, which was earlier scheduled to hold this Saturday.
The committee decided on a two-week shift, a development that may not have gone down well with other stakeholders of the party, most of whom are agitating that the convention should hold on February 26 as earlier scheduled.
There are also indications that stakeholders settled for a postponement owing to logistic gaps in the convention planning.
PRESIDENTIAL aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, Sunday, vowed that no amount of intimidation could halt his presidential ambition in 2023.
He said this during his consultation with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan-designate, Oba Lekan Balogun.
Tinubu had in January visited President Muhammadu Buhari to register his readiness to contest in the 2023 elections.
Speaking at the Olubadan-designate’s palace in Ibadan, the National Leader of the APC insisted that no amount of intimidation could stop him from fulfilling his ambition.
He said his visit to Oyo and Ibadan was borne out of his respect for the royal stool, and to seek their blessings, cooperation and prayers to lead the country come 2023.
I am ready to get dirty–Tinubu
He said: “No amount of intimidation can stop me. I am ready to get dirty. I am out to become President of Nigeria. We are at a crossroad.”
Speaking earlier at the Alaafin’s palace, he said: “I cannot embark on a project of such magnitude without seeking for prayers and cooperation of the traditional rulers.
“I am here to inform our fathers of my decision to run for the position of the President of this country in 2023. What I need from our highly referred traditional rulers are their prayers and cooperation.
“Today, by the special grace of God in Yorubaland unlike before we have the Vice-President, the Minister of Works, Interior and Sports but we still need more.”
Responding, Oba Adeyemi, who invoked the spirits of his fore-bearers, said his request has been granted.
He said all the ancestors of Yorubaland would work in his favour and answer his prayers.
He, therefore, asked the 10 Oke-Ogun traditional rulers in attendance at the meeting whether they were in support of his decision, and their response was: “We are fully in support.”
JEWELofHELL666: As him fake news and wack journalism no pay, he wants to quit.
Don't mind the enemy of Nigeria! Imagine the bitter sadist is even jealous of Tolu Ogunlesi. Look at Sowore and Samuel Ogundipe. Resorting to blackmail and propaganda to make ends meet.
But my God will never let them succeed. They'll all quit! Journalism should be left for decent folks.
I don't know whether I unwittingly give off a certain vibe here, but on my dad's grave I assure you that I am not swimming in money. I have no idea where this sea of DMs is coming from.
I'm not looking for what to eat thank goodness, but I also have bills and responsibilities.
I assure you I have no access to any inheritance or trust fund or any such thing. The only thing I inherited was some of the liabilities and responsibilities that my dad used to handle when he was alive.
I'm struggling too. Please. Pity an orphan like me. Don't add to my stress.
Always find it very curious how people who know absolutely nothing about you or the kind of life you have, will sit down and do napkin arithmetic to calculate what is in your pocket for you.
May whatever god you worship forgive you people for adding to my many burdens.
There's something fundamentally broken about the business of journalism around the world.
The figures on offer are just not commensurate to the utility journalists offer. We have an occupation that is this objectively important offering uniformly poor compensation across board.
We are expected to be 1 part social conscience, 1 part historiographer, 1 part PhD researcher, and 1 part Wall Street analyst on the wages of a Wal-Mart greeter.
More importantly, journalism is one of the few "respected" professions where there is no career pipeline whatsoever.
You can write the most important story ever written and win a Pullitzer and a Nobel Peace Prize for your efforts, but there is no guarantee whatsoever that this will help your journalism career.
The industry is governed not by metrics, but by who knows who and who was born where
Even if you know the right people and you have the right passport, a full time job offer at the New Yorker for example, starts at $40,000 per annum - $6,400 less than the estimated living wage for New York.
I won't even bother talking about what's obtainable in Nigeria.
This absence of financial reward alongside the lack of any kind of career pathway or structure is what makes journalists become Tolu Ogunlesi.
Not everybody can deal with extended uncertainty and a global industry that internally resembles a university frat house.
Me I will not become Tolu Ogunlesi. At the same time, I have no intention of suffering. My reward is not in heaven because I'm atheist.
When I inevitably announce that I've accepted a private sector job offer later in the year, you know why.
What I've achieved in this career is equivalent to a commercial pilot achieving his type rating and becoming a pilot on an A380, or a medical doctor becoming a specialist.
After getting that far, they don't have to do unsteady gig work to pay their bills and neither should I.
Tinubu’s camp may be surprised to learn that the embarrassing leaks about him are actually being promoted by Vice President Osinbajo’s campaigners. We can name names if they want. Let them sort themselves out, although we appreciate them exposing their dirty linen!
The private residence of Kaduna based Islamic Scholar, Shaikh Ahmad Gumi, has been gutted by fire, Daily Trust reports.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon.
Details of the fire incident remain unknown and no casualties have been recorded, but the roof of the one-story building was affected, as residents battled to put off the fire.
Daily Trust also observed that part of the building was also used as school.
Dr. Gumi confirmed the incident to Daily Trust saying ‘it was Allah’s will’. He said, “It was God’s will and the cause unknown because there was no electricity when the incident happened.”
Daily Trust also observed that the video of the fire incident was posted on the Facebook wall of the scholar as youths battle to prevent the fire from spreading to another part of the building.
These criminals can’t stand the truth, they are gone! blocking me from tagging them to my exposition will not change anything, why are they blocking? You can’t fight truth and win. Your criminality could not make you stand the test of time.
Politics › 2023: Dino Melaye Dumps Saraki For Atiku, Gives Reason by SATANICALLY(op): 8:04pm On Mar 03, 2022
