₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government on Monday said it will not tolerate the recruitment of Nigerians as foreign fighters in Ukraine.

According to a statement signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the government is in talks with Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.

The government’s statement comes after reports emerged of Nigerian volunteers being drafted into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Embassy to verify the speculation,” the statement said. “The Ukrainian Embassy refuted the allegation, but confirmed that a number of Nigerians had approached the Embassy indicating their willingness to fight on the side of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

“Furthermore, the Embassy clarified that the Ukrainian government is not admitting foreign volunteer fighters and as such dissociated itself from the claim that it is requesting $1,000 from each Nigerian volunteer for air ticket and visa.

“As a responsible member of the international community and consistent with out obligations under international law, Nigeria discourages the use of mercenaries anywhere in the world and will not tolerate the recruitment, in Nigeria, of Nigerians as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine or anywhere in the world.

“The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”

geequ:
All I can say is Manchester united needs quality players.... These bunch are nothing to write home about.... Zero shot on target in the second half... Running around like headless chicken

teemy:
In the video, the same question was raised since Iraq and Afghanistan were both non-NATO states and yet, NATO went there.

Watch 3:57

TOPCRUISE:
“But it took me only two months to secure a good job when I came to Ukraine in early 2020. If not for this senseless war, life was beginning to have meaning for me once again.

“So, if I hop into the plane because I have seen a free flight, what happens after I come down in Abuja or Lagos or wherever? Has anything changed in Nigeria? Will I now get the job, lack of which forced me out?

“I am not coming back. This war will end one day. But if it doesn’t, we will decide what next to do. But coming back to Nigeria is out of it for now. And mind you, I am not the only one staying put. The students who were sent here by their rich parents to study may go home, but I doubt if any economic migrant like me will dare do that,” he concluded.

ogododo:
The president according to news reports was reported to have told governors who were all grumbling about the choice of Adamu to go home that he had made his choice.

It is now obvious that the planned emergence of Adamu as the national chairman of the APC is only the first stage in forging the consensus against Tinubu in the presidential race.

As the 2023 presidential election is a few months away, one of the presidential aspirants and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday, paid a visit to the traditional rulers in the three senatorial districts of Ondo State, seeking their support for his aspiration.

Speaking at the palace of the Deji of Akure, the former governor of Lagos State said he had helped many people in the country to achieve their political goals.

Among the beneficiaries of his political benevolence, Tinubu mentioned a former governor of Osun and Ondo States, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Dr Olusegun Mimiko respectively. He also mentioned Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) among others.

Tinubu said, “I helped Mimiko get his mandate through court after two years that he was elected. I helped Fayemi get his mandate after three years. It took Aregbesola three years and 10 months to get his mandate. We have helped many people like that.

“We helped Buhari sack them (PDP). We supported him to complete his eight-year term and I have told him I want to succeed him. He said I should go ahead, that is why I came to seek the support of the traditional rulers.”

Tinubu promised to solve the various problems of the country if given the opportunity to be the next president.

“Lagos State was the worst state in Africa when I became governor, we generate meagre revenue then but we did our best. Look at Lagos now, it generates over N40 billion in revenue.

“Division is one of the problems in Nigeria too but there is no division in Lagos because any tribe or religion is welcomed as they can contest and win elections. That is why Lagos is thriving.

"Nigeria has the potential to compete with Russia in oil and gas exploration. If we harness our resources properly and if there is stable electricity, Nigeria will also compete with other nations in manufacturing.

“I am here to seek the blessing of our royal fathers for my presidential ambition because I know where the problems are and if given the opportunity in 2023, Nigeria will be ranked among the best nations in the world. I am imploring all eligible voters to get their Permanent Voters Card revalidated for them to exercise their civic responsibilities,” Tinubu stated.

In his response, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, described Tinubu as a person who could solve the country’s problems.

In Okitipupa, where Tinubu met with the monarchs at the Ondo South Senatorial District, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru-Akinrunta, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers, saluted the courage of Tinubu for declaring his presidential ambition, saying he has the charisma and ability to turn the country to a better place.

crossfm:
Hehehe.


Why are they complaining suddenly. His decisions has always been monotonous,and they always keep mute.

Buhari don't care about their opinion.

akaahs:
On point sir. Ju
On point sir. Just imagine after one pgd, u not an engineer in the eye of COREN until you cap it with master.

oilPUSSY:
Some of you are so hopeless and idiotic in reasoning.. As an individual he has right to support whoever he wants to support..
The right to vote and to be voted for is an ineliable right.

Some Yorubas have endorsed Igbo presidency...
Some Igbos I know both online and offline support yoruba presidency.

Some Northerners have drummed for Igbo presidency while some Igbos support Yoruba presidency..

So what's the noise that Abaribe is supporting Atiku ?
I am 100% sure that it's the same set of charlatans that are making this noise about Abaribe's support for Atiku are the same set of people that accused some Igbos that supported GEJ in 2015 of not building political bridge , accusing them of putting their eggs in one basket..

They are coming with their usual empty comments and directionless comments..

LeoDeKing:
[s][/s]

Go and tell this to Meth cannibals sniffing Tinubu's fart as a vocation.

Former Governor of Lagos State and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said, on Thursday, that Nigeria needed a competent leader who could unite the people, tackle insecurity and rejig the debilitating economy and as well benefit the masses this time around.

Tinubu, who was in Ekiti State as part of the ongoing consultation for the 2023 presidential election, said that he decided to consult with the traditional rulers before declaring because of the enormous respect he placed on culture and tradition.

He said, “I’m contesting this race to renew the hope and make the future great for our children. For Nigeria to stand united and develop, we require patience and wisdom. We have to be united, that is the only way we can be great.”

It was carnival-like at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, as people gathered for hours singing, dancing and praising the All Progressives Congress National Leader to the high heavens, as they awaited his arrival to meet with the revered monarch.

Tinubu, accompanied by the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi, who said he represented Governor Kayode Fayemi, and top brass of the Southwest Agenda for Tinubu 2023, led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye, earlier met with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers at their chambers in the capital city.

He said, “We have struggled for democracy and today, we have democracy, but we are not stable yet. There is insecurity, hopelessness, lack of education and suffering in the land. By now, we should have a good farming system and opportunities to produce for other nations to buy.

“We are here to answer the call of our children by educating them the right way so that we can leave a Nigeria that is united, prosperous and abundant for them. We chose democracy and we must not fail in this task.

That was why we formed the APC based on principles. I want to tell you that Nigeria needs serious change. I knew how Lagos was when I took over and we have never failed any election. There must be continuity in governance for progress to be attained.

“I was the first governor in Nigeria to start paying the WAEC fee of secondary school students. I shall do it again as a President.”

Tinubu, who said he had been on Nigeria’s project since the 70s, said, “I was with MKO Abiola in Social Democratic Party. I was a Senator before he came out. I was the youngest Senator of that era. I was about becoming Director of Finance of ExxonMobil, but I rejected it.

“I said I wanted to serve Nigeria. They gave me leave of absence to go and do politics for four years and come back, but I only spent two years as a senator when the military came and terminated our tenure. I had an option, which was to go back and enjoy at ExxonMobil, but I decided that I would fight for Nigeria.

"We believed that there must be democracy in Nigeria, there must be freedom and there must be opportunities. We joined hands with Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Anthony Enahoro and others. Governor Kayode Fayemi was in the University of London then, brilliant and he joined the struggle. He worked so hard, in fact, he is an excellent man. So, looking at all these, we should all know that this democracy must not fail.

“We have to collaborate, unite and promote ourselves, instead of fighting. We all see what is happening in Ukraine today, we don’t need such experience here. We must elevate our technology and make use of available opportunities to develop Nigeria and that is what we are coming to do,” he said.

SWAGA National Chairman, Senator Adeyeye, who said Tinubu had made great investment to the development of Ekiti State in terms of human resources, said, “That APC is in Ekiti today is traceable to God and Tinubu. He struggled for it and restored progressive politics here.

"He had made many Ekiti people commissioners, Special Advisers, and local government chairmen in Lagos. Tinubu honoured our own hero in Ekiti, Adekunle Fajuyi, by building a house for him. He had helped so many people including myself.

“Tinubu brought a paradigm shift to Lagos governance, in fact, he is a miracle worker. As a governor of Lagos State, he was ranked first and no wonder he remained the last man standing when the then Alliance for Democracy lost grip of the Southwest.

“That was why many of us dragged him into the presidential race to replicate what he had done in Lagos at the national level. Nobody can stand shoulder to shoulder out of all the presidential aspirants across party lines with him. He is the best builder of men in the history of Nigeria. This is the best man at this moment to rule Nigeria,” Adeyeye said.

The Traditional Council Chairman and the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, who said there was nothing wrong with Tinubu’s aspiration to be president, said the constitution permitted every qualified Nigerian to aspire for any position, saying, “God will help you realise your ambition.”

Speaking at his palace, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo, who appreciated Tinubu for teaching people how to fish and for his exploits in Lagos State, said, “That is why I believe you (Tinubu) when you said you would turn the situation of Nigeria around for good.”

Maxymilliano:
Sheriff is coming ...

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, has disclosed that some Nigerians caught in the Russia-Ukraine war do not want to return to the country.

Onyema disclosed this in a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday.

The Minister also stated that the Federal Government could start evacuation of Nigerian citizens, who have been able to find refuge in neighbouring countries, from Wednesday.

He said, “We hope to start evacuation hopefully Wednesday although some do not want to come back. We are doing everything possible to ensure that come Wednesday we will dispatch planes for evaluation.”

Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, Nigerians, especially students have travelled many kilometres across Ukraine to find refuge in neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, and Romania.

The Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine had told its citizens to take responsibility for their safety and remain security conscious, only to reverse its stand by providing a safe corridor for Nigerians who could escape.

According to a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the embassy in Romania had received 130 Nigerians, adding that it had also provided accommodation for them while arrangements are being made for their safe return back home.

“Also, officials at Budapest, Hungary have received and accommodated 74 Nigerians safely, where they are being documented for subsequent travel arrangements back to Nigeria,” the statement read.

During the meeting, Onyema told the Speaker that Nigerians who were taking refuge in the neighbouring countries were being taken care of with feeding and accommodation pending their evacuation.

However, Gbajabiamila called for the immediate evacuation of Nigerians trapped in Ukraine, stating that a day was long enough for “our brothers and sisters who are caught up in this crisis”.

Naijabad:
Shut up. Moslems anywhere and everywhere are either terrorists or potentials.

fergie001:
If the first Party settles for one, I know the other will push for the other. Money is not a problem for both.

fergie001:
Don't mind him


Buhari will be a major determinant who gets his Party's ticket.

fergie001:
You know Wike over-estimates himself too much. He didn't deliver Ogoja so he should rest IJN. I even heard he wants to run as VP, let him come so that PDP will be buried in Nigeria patapata.

Atiku is the biggest candidate for the PDP but majority of the PDP Govs don't want him. How he navigates that, time will tell.

For the APC, it strictly depends on only one person - Buhari. His direction is where everyone else will go. You can campaign but everybody will follow his direction.

Let's see how 2023 goes....I don't think the APC can be lodged though.

slivertongue:
Most southern analysts oversimplify 2023. The dynamics are taking shape gradually

slivertongue:
Another thread says PDP

fergie001:
Not a good outing for PDP nonetheless.

The Plateau bye-election was a protest by APC....On another day, the PDP won't win. Losing Akure & CRS shows ​they can't win the 2023 election, let's be honest here.

slivertongue:
Who is the official winner?

slivertongue:
Why are you shocked?

fergie001:
Yes

fergie001:
Yes

fergie001:
vicdom reader350 slivertongue

FINAL RESULT OF JOS NORTH/BASSA BYE ELECTION

APC 26,041
PDP 40,336
PRP 37,807

I don't know whatever happened......

fergie001:
APC = 24,024
PDP = 33582
PRP = 37,632

A few PUs remaining.