As tongues continue to wag over the wholesale re-appointment of virtually all former Commissioners who served in the immediate-past cabinet of former Governor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State, incumbent Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has explained the reason behind his decision. The list of no fewer than 22 nominees, which had already been sent to the State House of Assembly, and deliberated upon by the 26-member Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, last Thursday, before commiting same to the relevant Committee for further legislative action, LEADERSHIP learnt, would be cleared and confirmed between Tuesday and Thursday next…
Author: Adekunle Taofeek
The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state against making costly mistakes with appointments of new cabinet members and heads of government agencies and parastatals in the state. Primate Ayodele gave this warning in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin. According to he clergyman, several things may go wrong in Adeleke’s government that will make people criticize him. Ayodele said Adeleke could make some mistakes that may force him to be knocked out of a second-term ambition as Governor of the state. The clergyman stated that there…
Defence Headquarters said, yesterday, that the current leadership of the Armed Forces has activated troops into ‘war mode’, with a view to countering the threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and economic sabotage being perpetrated against Nigerians. Consequently, in the last one week, troops neutralised 23 terrorists, bandits and IPoB militants, rescued 17 kidnapped civilians and arrested 32 criminal elements, including terrorists’ collaborators, logistics suppliers, oil vandals and IPoB militants. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja, said N3.525 million cash, 125,000 CFA and 60 GHA Cedis were also recovered…
The National Vice Chairman for North-West, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has warned against replacing the ousted National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, with former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, saying the action may upset the zoning arrangement of the party. Lukman’s warning is coming in the wake of speculation that President Bola Tinubu may have penciled the ex-governor as the next chairman of the ruling party following the exit of Adamu and the erstwhile National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore. In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday titled ‘APC: Way Forward,’ the Kaduna politician stated that…
Reports say that plans are already in motion to make former Kano State governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emerge as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Some party stakeholders had fought to retain the position in the North-Central, particularly favouring Senator Sani Musa of Niger State and former Nasarawa State governor Tanko Al-Makura, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Abdullahi Ganduje emergence as party chairman would further push the bloc of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which produced former President Muhammadu Buhari, to the back seat of the present administration. Ganduje, who had made Tinubu’s ministerial…
The Executive Governor of Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, swore in newly appointed 25 Commissioners and three permanent secretaries in the state. The swearing-in program took place at the state secretariat in Osogbo,the state capital around 10am. During his address, Adeleke named himself as the new Commissioner for Works. Governor Adeleke also named his deputy as the new Commissioner for Youth and Sports. The Governor’s move has received mixed reactions from political analysts, with some expressing concern over the concentration of power in a single individual’s hands. Critics argue that by taking on the role of Commissioner for Works, Adeleke…
Tobi Amusan Charged for Alleged “Rule Violation” Reigning world champion and world record-holder in the women’s 100m hurdles event, Tobi Amusan, has been charged by the World Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU) of rule violation for allegedly missing three tests in 12 months. Amusan’s revelation came after she won the women’s 100m hurdles event on Tuesday , clocking an impressive 12.35secs at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial meet in Hungary as she edged American duo of Nia Ali (12.41 secs) and Alaysha Johnson(12.50 secs). Amusan via her social media handle @ihurdle_33.0inches , stated in a long post in the early hours of…
President Tinubu Bows to Pressure, Orders the Review of N8,000 Cash Palliative President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, said his administration will review its earlier plan to distribute monthly cash grants of N8,000 to 12 million households for six months as part of efforts to assuage the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal. This followed public criticism of the policy with organised labour saying it falls far from the level of intervention required to ease the pains of vulnerable Nigerians. “The President has directed that…the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately,”…
The National Assembly is set to receive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nominee tomorrow 19th of July 2023. This was contained in a letter received by the NASS clerk. Expectations on the ministerial list have been heightened in the past two weeks as President Bola Tinubu clocks 60 days in office, with different false ministerial lists circulating the media. By law, Tinubu is required to name his cabinet within 60 days after taking the oath of office on May 29 and transmit it to the Senate for confirmation. More details to follow.
The sudden resignation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was spurred by the manner they handled the contentious audit report of the party’s account, The News Chronicle learnt. This is as indications emerged that President Bola Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the party have started shopping for a replacement for the departed officials. Adamu and Omisore handed over their resignation letters on Sunday amid controversies about the reason for their actions. Aggrieved NWC members disclosed that the contention over the manner the two men…
Guide: How To Edit Sent Message on WhatsApp Grammar mistakes are common in conversations, especially when you are on the go. This happens very often when using your social media, especially WhatsApp. To address this concern, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp has introduced the feature to edit already sent WhatsApp messages. If you accidentally send your friend or loved ones a wrong timing for the movie, a wrong phone number or a different message entirely, below is step by step details on how to edit already sent WhatsApp messages. Interestingly, this can be done irrespective of the type of…
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has urged politicians to allow him to concentrate on the job he was elected to do. The governor complained that he was being distracted by too many unexpected visits from politicians in the state. The governor was captured in a video on Facebook addressing a gathering. “I will not go to anybody’s office without an appointment,” the governor said. “I find it amusing that people would just leave their home and just show up, and they will call you that they have not been allowed to pass through the Government House gate. “I…
I Won’t Celebrate My Birthday With the Current State of Nigeria; Says Peter Obi The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi said he will not celebrate his birthday anniversary with the current state of Nigeria. Obi stated this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Monday which was sighted by the News Chronicle. The LP flagbearer said he will not accede to requests by his friends, party members and supporters to join him in celebrating his birthday. Obi, however, appealed to those who may desire to celebrate him with gifts to look around them and…
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman (North) of the ruling All Progressive Congress has emerged as the acting National Chairman of the party. Kyari’s takeover confirms the resignation of APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu over the weekend. Adamu was reported to have tendered his resignation to the party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore. However, at about 10:40 am on Monday, the Deputy National Chairman led a team of seven other members of the NWC to a meeting in his office. It was learnt that Kyari’s car was parked in the slot reserved for the National Chairman.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday night reportedly stormed the home of the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Abdullahi, to execute a search warrant. According to report, the EFCC agents arrived around 8:00 p.m. at Adamu’s house on Ali Akilu Crescent, by Aso Rock Presidential Villa, and immediately met resistance from police orderlies attached to the politician. It was gathered that, the police officers said no one could enter the house because it was already past 6:00 p.m. and already late for any search operation. The EFCC officers insisted, despite…
There are strong indications that the federal government is favourably disposed to raising the minimum wage to as high as N200k per month as demanded by the organised labour in the country. However, state governors are urging for caution while Anambra State governor Charles Soludo has been asked to chair a Technical Working Group (TWG) to resolve the issues and its various dimensions. It was gathered that the matter was discussed at the last month’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting and it was there that the Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission made a presentation on how the federal government can…
Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno has directed the immediate renovation and upgrading of facilities in all public primary Schools across the state. According to a a Statement in Uyo, governor Eno gave the directive Friday when he embarked on an unscheduled inspection of facilities at Christ the King Primary School, CKS located along Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo. The statement noted that there would be renovation of structures, provision of educational materials, solar lighting system, Pipe borne water and staff quarters, at the Christ the King Primary School which is to serve as a model of the state government’s…
Oyo State government has debunked reports of a cholera outbreak in some parts of the state. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju who stated this yesterday said a medical team had been put on alert to prevent unforeseen circumstances. The statement sighted by the News Chronicle partly read, “Surveillance and notification officers in the state and local governments have been put on alert to institute preventive measures and sensitisation of residents in markets and other places with a view to responding to any outbreak of such disease in the state. “This disease is suspected to be highly…
Justice Yusuf Halilu of an High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has discharged Senator Rochas Okorocha from corruption charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This was the third time Okorocha has been freed by courts in respect of alleged fraud and corruption said to have been committed while he was the Governor of Imo State between 2011-2019. Justice Halilu on Friday freed the former governor from the allegations after dismissing the charges filed by the anti-graft agency for being an abuse of court processes. According to the court, it was wrong for…
The Senate on Thursday began the screening of Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa and other Service Chiefs, including Major General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshall Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff. The screening followed the submission of the substantive appointments of the CDS and service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate on Tuesday. More details later…
The candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has described the sit-at-home in Southeast Nigeria and the attendant disruption of business and social activities as worrisome. Obi had been silent on the crisis in the southeast, his region and he had been heavily criticized for it by some people on social media. However, in a series of tweets on Thursday, Obi condemned the situation, describing it as criminal. He said, “Also disturbing is the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East region over the Sit-at-Home directive purported to be coming from…
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Rashidi Ladoja has dragged the Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, and his ten newly elevated beaded crown-wearing Obas to court over the chieftaincy title. Ladoja dragged them to Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan last week. Gov. Makinde had approved the elevation following the recommendation of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the prescribed and consenting authority. It will also be recalled that the governor last Friday presented the Staff of Office to the new Obas. The new Obas are Owolabi Olakulehin; Tajudeen Ajibola; Eddy…
The National Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Senator Iyiola Omisore, on Tuesday night described the National Vice Chairman of North-West, Mallam Salihu Lukman, as a loose canon and the ‘black sheep’ of the party. This was as he denied that the APC was aware of some disgruntled members seeking the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Omisore made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, ‘Politics Today’. The development is coming barely two months after Lukman accused Adamu of running the party like a garrison commander. Earlier, the Kaduna politician had dragged both Adamu and…
National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, has urged members of the party to be alert, following information available to him that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was already preparing for a possible re-run of the 2023 presidential election. This, he explained, was because the ruling party was aware the tide was heavily tilted against it in the ongoing legal challenge to the presidential election results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Abure said this during an online meeting held with Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy, led by Prof Eddie Oparaoji, the Labour Party…
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has written to the state House of Assembly requesting for an extension of his medical leave. Akeredolu said in the letter that the request was a sequel to doctors’ advice on the need for him to take adequate rest after recuperating. Receiving the letter on behalf of other Lawmakers, the Speaker, said the governor’s action was in line with section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended). Oladiji who expressed appreciation to God for the speedy recovery of the governor, expressed optimism that he would soon resume his duty.…
BREAKING: President Bola Tinubu Emerges New ECOWAS Chairman President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Tinubu’s emergence was announced at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. The 63rd Ordinary Session Summit was the first engagement of the President within the African continent since he assumed office on May 29, 2023. More details later…
Founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the late Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, was an institution in the Nigerian banking sector and a model for generations of bankers and lawyers, among other professionals, according to the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. The Vice President, who represented President Bola Tinubu, made the observation on Saturday in his remarks at the funeral service for the late Otunba Balogun held at Cathedral Church of Our Saviour in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. According to a statement by the Vice President’s media office, Senator Shettima described the late FCMB founder as a banking icon “who…
Former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of buying over opposition figures in order to give his government some form of legitimacy after a questionable electoral victory. Atiku, in a statement by his special assistant on public communications, Phrank Shaibu, said the Bola Tinubu administration had begun appointing critics into government for sinister motives. The statement added that Tinubu’s constant meetings with some key opposition figures were being done for the purpose of seeking legitimacy and surreptitiously silencing credible critical voices. Shaibu said the recent appointment of Taiwo Oyedele, a…
Two commissioners that served during the tenure of Osun State ex-governor, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside 23 others have been unveiled as commissioner nominees by the Osun State House of Assembly. The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, read out the names as contained in the letter sent to the lawmakers by Governor Ademola Adeleke at the plenary on Friday. The two members of Aregbesola’s cabinet that made the list are Mr. Kolapo Alimi, who served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Biyi Odunlade, who was Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Sports. Others nominated by…
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Thursday, July 6, 2023, granted conditional bail to Abba Kyari at the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum. Justice Omotosho also ordered that the sureties must have property worth N25 million each within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), among other conditions. The judge held that even when Kyari meets the bail conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant would be subject to development in a sister case pending before Justice Emeka Nwite in which he is being tried with four others on an alleged drug deal. Justice Omotosho said…
