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  • Sanwo-Olu arrests soldier, okada rider for driving against traffic

    Sanwo-Olu arrests soldier, okada rider for driving against traffic

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday, January 2, arrested a soldier and some commercial motorcyclists for driving against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

    The governor arrested the suspects while returning from the Lagos State University, Ojo where he opened a project sponsored by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Sanwo-Olu, on sighting the traffic offenders, stopped his convoy and went after the riders. While some of the riders ran and left their motorcycles and passengers, some were arrested by the governor’s team.

    The apprehended military personnel told Sanwo-Olu’s security that he was a soldier. Upon hearing this, Governor Sanwo-Olu got infuriated and said ‘that’s the more reason why I’m going to lock you up. I’m going to lock you up. Useless boy, you’re telling me you’re a soldier.

    Read Also: Obi, Utomi pay condolence visit to Akeredolu’s family in Ibadan

    “Put him there; let your father come and rescue you. You’re telling me you are a soldier; that is the reason I am going to lock you up.”

    The governor also addressed a female passenger, saying, “You people are the ones causing this. Maybe I should arrest two of you and put you in the guardroom. You are patronising Okada, and they are taking one way. Is it good? And they will hit you and you die; they will say the government killed you.”

  • Why Tinubu suspended NSIPA boss Halima Sheu – Official

    Why Tinubu suspended NSIPA boss Halima Sheu – Official

    An official in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has explained why the national coordinator of the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA), Ms. Halima Shehu was suspended.

    According to the official, she was suspended because of financial misappropriation worth billions of naira.

    Before Halima’s appointment, she worked as the national coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and also served with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2017 and 2022.

    Her suspension is coming barely three months after her appointment was confirmed by the Senate.

    She resumed after the confirmation on the 7th of November, 2023.

    She was also billed to perform an event at the local government secretariat in New Karu, Nasarawa state on Tuesday morning before the news of her suspension came.

    She was meant to distribute cash grants and starter packs to vulnerable groups and also reach out to some victims of kidney harvesting.

    Reporters who went to the event were sent back and forth due to the uncertainty of the news of her suspension.

    They had arrived at the venue of the event in New Karu but were asked to return to the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. 

    After their return, they were asked to go back to New Karu as the coordinator of the event was sure Shehu was going to grace the occasion despite news of her suspension.

    A few minutes after their arrival the second time at the event venue in New Karu, they were asked to return to Abuja where Shehu was meant to brief.

    Upon arrival, armed personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were on ground and prevented journalists from entering.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila inaugurates four projects across Lagos

    Giving reasons for her suspension, the official at the ministry who didn’t want his name mentioned, said: “Her suspension is true and it was a presidential directive that had to be effected without delay.

    “She was suspended due to financial misappropriation worth billions of Naira. She was once the National Programme Coordinator of the National Conditional Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under the immediate past administration but there have been reports of financial misappropriation and that is why she was suspended. Her suspension will give room for proper inevestigation.

    On the amount she is being probed for, he said: “I cannot state the specific amount but I know it runs in billions because she headed a cluster of the NSIP programme and a lot of controversies have surrounded the execution of that programme.

    “She is not the only that is being investigation. From all indication, in the coming days, everybody linked to the misappropriation of funds in the execution of the programme would be invited by the EFCC.”

  • Osun APC blasts Aregbesola, says ex-gov dishonoured agreement by Tinubu, Akande

    Osun APC blasts Aregbesola, says ex-gov dishonoured agreement by Tinubu, Akande

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun state has tackled former governor Rauf Aregbesola over the claim that his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola reneged on reconcilatory agreements.

    The APC lambasted the Aregbesola, the erstwhile minister of Interior for reneging on 2020 reconciliatory agreement sanctioned by President Bola Tinubu and pioneer chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande.

    The chairman of APC, Osun State, Tajudeen Lawal in a release on Tuesday, January 2, debunked the claim by Aregbesola that an agreement was reached on August 26th, 2021, where it was resolved that his faction be considered in forming the government by giving it one-third of the appointments in the second term of Oyetola’s administration.

    Lawal averred that Aregbesola was making a reference to the agreement he reached with the Adeleke dynasty as the APC did not make the 2022 governorship election in Osun, adding that no wonder the Aregbesola faction was accorded one-third of appointments in the current administration, led by Senator Ademola Adeleke as governor.

    Lawal claimed that Aregbesola was alluding to the pact he made with the Adeleke dynasty since the APC didn’t make such in the 2022 Osun governorship election.

    He pointed out that this might explain why the Aregbesola faction received one-third of appointments in the present administration, with Senator Ademola Adeleke serving as governor.

    He explained that “to the best of my knowledge, the only agreement, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande happened in December 2020 and that Aregbesola reneged on the spirit and letter of the said agreement.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila inaugurates four projects across Lagos

    “At the end of the meeting, it was Aregbesola who prepared the contents of the resolutions and gave it to our Baba, Chief Bisi Akande, to vet before it was passed on to the leaders of the party. And part of the agreement was that there would be an automatic ticket for Oyetola and that while Oyetola would be allowed to face governance without interference from any quarters, the trio of Chief Bisi Akande, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola will lead, guide, coordinate and administer the party as the apex body.

    “But during the primaries, Aregbesola sponsored Alhaji Moshood Adeoti against Oyetola contrary to the agreement reached. Oyetola won the election. The same Aregbesola went to court with Adeoti to challenge the outcome of the primary. He also sponsored 10 different cases in various courts to challenge the nomination of Oyetola as the candidate of the APC.

    “Before then, he held a parallel congress and pushed unsuccessfully to have a validly elected chairman of the party replaced with his factional chairman. “As if that was not enough, Aregbesola went ahead to sponsor three different candidates against Oyetola in the governorship election. So, who betrayed each other?”

  • Tinubu’s New Year address struck right chord with Nigerians, says APC

    Tinubu’s New Year address struck right chord with Nigerians, says APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message struck the right chord with Nigerians.

    It also described the message as an excellent fit for the purpose and occasion it was delivered.

    Dismissing the criticism and condemnation by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the January 1 nationwide address of the president, the governing party said Tinubu’s address was “both in tone and substance measured, sensitive, articulate and highly presidential.”

    Reacting to PDP’s waving off of President’s New Year message, APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, January 2, said that the PDP diatribe was a testament to the party’s incapacity to serve as a sensible or credible opposition party.

    Educating the opposition on the essence of a new year message, the governing party noted that the basic understanding of the nature of a new year speech stands elusive to highly deluded PDP. 

    According to APC, ” A New Year speech of any President is a goodwill message to the nation in celebration of the new year. It is a moment for tone-setting of expectations for the year ahead. It is not a  policy speech delivered to a think tank.

    “The President was forthright in his acknowledgement of the transient tough impact that some of the administration’s policies have had on citizens, just as he was categorical in the expression of commitment to do everything under the power of his office to tackle prevailing challenges and secure a safer and stronger country for the benefit of all.

    “The President addressed Nigerians with candour, sensitivity and attentiveness of a kind unknown to the PDP in its 16 years of reckless, and never again, rule.

    “The President’s New Year message struck the right chord with Nigerians, assuring of the administration’s commitment to fixing power and energy challenges, locally refining petroleum products, crashing prices of products, creating jobs, enabling a more favourable business environment, tackling insecurity, expanding food security and affordability, implementing new minimum wage for workers, and more.”

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila inaugurates four projects across Lagos

    Morka further said:  “Signing the 2024 budget into law on New Year’s Day is further evidence of the President walking the talk. The President is busy doing the job he was elected to do and will not be distracted by PDP’s idle mischief.” 

    Berating the PDP, the APC spokesperson noted that the party has failed woefully in providing credible and sensible opposition politics.

    “Democratic opposition politics is not exactly about being a masterclass of incivility or casting crude aspersions without justification.

    “It is also not about a haughty display of ignorance of essential social and economic policy or willful blindness to the administration’s bold and courageous efforts to raise the bar for sustainable growth and development of our country. PDP’s nagging irrationality is a blight on our democracy.”

    Taking a further swipe at the opposition, the ruling party concluded that, “if the status of opposition party were a contested one, the PDP would still miserably fail to pass muster.”

  • Gbajabiamila inaugurates four projects across Lagos

    Gbajabiamila inaugurates four projects across Lagos

    Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians to be patient, saying government’s ability to perform takes experience, pedigree and time.

    He also admonished those seeking public office to ‘remember that the ultimate and highest legacy we can leave as public servants is in the evident improvements to the lives of the people we serve’.

    “I must also urge citizens to remember that the ability to get things done in government requires experience and pedigree, takes time and demands that we manage expectations accordingly,” he added. 

    Gbajabiamila spoke on Tuesday, January 2, in Lagos while inaugurating projects he facilitated in his Surulere Federal Constituency during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

    The projects were commissioned alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and they include a state-of-the-art conference centre at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, an ultramodern, multi-floor 80-bed General Hospital, the dualised Babs Animashaun Road and Census Bridge, and the Sam Shonibare Community Development Centre, all in Surulere.

    Gbajabiamila, who traced his political trajectory in the last 20 years at the House of Representatives, said it was an honour to serve. 

    He thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu, ‘for his support and collaboration through the years because without partnership with the state government, it would have been more difficult to achieve our visions for the projects’. 

    Gbajabiamila added: “I am proud that we have constructed over 250 roads in selected federal constituencies in the state,  especially Surulere I and II constituencies, and completed 15 mini stadia. We facilitated heavy investment in education and healthcare, including constructing and equipping over 20 ICT centers in public schools where children are taught computer programming and coding. We have provided solar energy systems to light up neighbourhoods and support commercial trades in our constituencies.”

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila: State House Hospital’s presidential wing among world’s best

    The General Hospital was upgraded from a primary healthcare centre and now boasts of advanced and specialist care facilities, a 500kva generator, a 100kva solar power supply on the roof, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a borehole, water filtration system and a dialysis centre on the second floor. It also boasts of radiology, a large laboratory, paediatric, physiotherapy, surgical, and X-ray facilities.

    The Chief of Staff said the projects were inspired by a sense of duty and part of his efforts to meet the people’s expectations.

    Sanwo-Olu, who thanked Gbajabiamila for partnering the state government, said such fruitful collaborations were part of the administration’s efforts to further its THEMES agenda. 

    He noted that the facility is now world-class, and would be managed by the Ministry of Health.

    The governor added  that to strengthen the state’s medical infrastructure, and counter the mass exodus of doctors and other medical personnel, the government will, this year, build a medical university targetted at graduating 1,500 doctors yearly. 

    Sanwo-Olu said the institution will be built in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    He explained that the facility is needed following advice from the Federal authorities that the state needs to scale up the number of medical personnel it produces in the light of the shortage of medical health practitioners due to the japa syndrome. 

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Lagos State will be establishing, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Universities Commission (NUC), a medical university before the end of this year. This is a strategic intervention, moment for us. 

    “We cannot fold our arms like a government that cannot intervene, and so we will, as a state that is leading the pack and we hope that other states will take the initiative and set up this university to scale up our medical graduates to about 1,500 yearly. It will also stem, in our view, the risk of our medical personnel leaving our country. We are not going to stop at ensuring that we provide the best facilities to be able to retain our best hands.”

  • What my grandson told Tinubu during our visit to Bourdillon — Osoba

    What my grandson told Tinubu during our visit to Bourdillon — Osoba

    A former Ogun state governor, Olusegun Osoba, has revealed that his grandson engaged President Bola Tinubu in a discussion during their visit to Bourdillon on Christmas day.

    Osoba made this revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, January 2.

    The former governor said his grandson had an audience with Tinubu and he gave the President “counter-information” during his discussion with him, adding that his grandson also used the opportunity to inform him (Tinubu) about happenings in Nigeria.

    Osoba said: “As to the pain, I have direct access to him and in the last 10 days, I have had two audiences with him and we’ve had very deep and serious discussions. As part of my own role as an elder statesman, I was there to give him counter information and I did just that. And I can assure you, he is a listening person.

    “I had a quality time with him on Christmas Day and even my grandson engaged him in discussion on Christmas Day. The young boy was very honest with him and told him some of the things that are going on in the country.

    “So, I can assure you, he’s very much on top of things,” he said.

    Osoba, however, assured Nigerians that President Tinubu will implement his Renewed Hope Agenda in 2024.

    He said: “I do agree that things are very tough for everybody irrespective of one’s status in the society. There’s nobody in this country who is not feeling the pain and the current hardship, that I would admit and that I will not pretend not to know. But the government at the same time is struggling very hard to contain the hardship and reduce the pain.”

    Read Also: Law to protect children from online violence underway, says Rep Osoba

    Reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party’s criticism of Tinubu’s New Year speech, the former governor said the main opposition party’s stance was expected.

    Tinubu during his New Year address to Nigerians on Monday, affirmed that Nigerians are frustrated because of the removal of fuel subsidy and the Naira devaluation.

    He said: “I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.

    “Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades.”

    But the PDP described Tinubu’s New Year speech as a “harvest of deceit, false claims and empty promises.”

    In his reaction to the statement, Osoba said the main opposition party was nursing its “deep wound” from the loss of the 2023 presidential election.

    He said: “You don’t expect the PDP to see anything positive about this administration. They went to all lengths to ensure their dream of leading the country and they lost at all levels.

    “I think they are still nursing the deep wound, and therefore they will use all kinds of languages to describe the situation in the country. They are playing the role expected of the opposition.”

  • Obi, Utomi pay condolence visit to Akeredolu’s family in Ibadan

    Obi, Utomi pay condolence visit to Akeredolu’s family in Ibadan

    The Presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, and a political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Ibadan.

    The former Anambra State governor revealed this via his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 2, describing the late Ondo state governor as an individual who was committed to building a better Nigeria. 

    Read Also: Ojelabi mourns Akeredolu, Ghali Na’Abba

    Obi’s tweet read: “Today, together with my very dear elder brother, Prof Pat Utomi, I arrived Ibadan, Oyo dtate, to commiserate with the bereaved wife of late Gov Rotimi Akeredolu, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, and the entire Akeredolu Family, as we all mourn the death of Gov Akeredolu. 

    “While Gov Akeredolu was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and subsequently as a governor, he stayed consistent on how to build a better Nigeria where there would be respect for the rule of law, security of lives and properties  of Nigerian citizens. 

    “He believed in a restructured and productive Nigeria. May God who it pleased to call him home at this time grant him eternal rest and grant his dear wife, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the entire Akeredolu family, and all of us who mourn him, the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss.”

  • JUST IN: Crisis hits Ondo PDP as SWC sacks state chairman

    JUST IN: Crisis hits Ondo PDP as SWC sacks state chairman

    Crisis has hit the Ondo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the February’s bye-election for Akoko Northwest/Akoko Northeast Federal Constituency seat.

    The crisis escalated on Tuesday, January 2, when the State Working Committee sacked state chairman of the party, Hon Fatai Adams.

    In a statement issued at the end of the Ondo PDP SWC meeting and signed by nine members, the SWC said Adams was removed in pursuant to section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the party’s Constitution as amended in 2017.

    The statement said Adams was removed for anti party activities and engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

    “He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.

    Read Also: We can make Edo Switzerland of Nigeria, says PDP aspirant

    “The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party. the APC, into its ranks.” It reads.

    Adams described the members that signed the statement as jokers.

    He said his removal was null and void saying only the National Executive Committee could discipline him.

    Adams said those that signed the statement were sponsored by ‘elements within and outside the party.’

    It was gathered that trouble started escalated within the Ondo PDP after Adams rejected report of 20-man Committee to assess aspirants for the February by-election.

    The Committee had advised the party to sponsor Olalekan Bada as ita consensus candidate for the by-election into the Akoko North East/Akoko North West seat in the House of Representatives.

    Sources said Adams was in support of another aspirant that came third in the Committee’s ranking.

    A chieftain of the PDP said, “We will not allow Adams lead us to defeat again. He is supposed to be neutral but he picked sides. What we want is victory at the polls.”

  • JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Egbuwalo as NSIPA national coordinator

    JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Egbuwalo as NSIPA national coordinator

    Akindele Egbuwalo, the National N-POWER Program Manager has been appointed as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). 

    The Nation reports that President Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu as NSIPA national coordinator on Tuesday, January 2, over allegations of corruption and financial malfeasance during her tenure.

    Shehu had assumed office in October 2023 following her confirmation by the Senate on October 18, 2023.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu suspends Halima Shehu as NSIPA national coordinator

    Egbuwalo steps into the role from his previous position as the National N-Power Programme manager. His appointment is seen as an interim measure, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against Shehu.

    The National Social Investment Programme is a critical initiative aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion across Nigeria.

    The appointment of Egbuwalo, with his background in managing the N-Power Programme, is seen as a strategic move to ensure continuity and expertise in the crucial area of social investment. 

  • JUST IN: Adebanjo leads Afenifere delegation to Akeredolu’s family in Ibadan

    JUST IN: Adebanjo leads Afenifere delegation to Akeredolu’s family in Ibadan

    The factional leader of Yoruba Socio-political organization, ‘Afenifere’, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo on Tuesday, January 2, led a delegation of the group to the Ibadan residence of former Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

    Adebanjo and other members of the group were in Ibadan to condole with Akeredolu’s wife, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu over the demise of her husband.

    Speaking with journalists, the elder statement said Afenifere’s visitation was not because Akeredolu was a former governor of Ondo state but what he stood for in Nigeria politics and the type of progressive politics he played while alive.

    Read Also: Ojelabi mourns Akeredolu, Ghali Na’Abba

    According to him, Akeredolu was a great patriot, a great nationalist, and someone who believed in what he said, very courageous and consistent particularly during the invasion of Fulani herdsmen in Southwest states.

    He said: “Akeredolu stood firm, he called a spade a spade, he said Fulani men must get out of the forest they are, he is a great son of Oduduwa Oduduwa, he stood firm despite the dominance of ex-president Buhari.

    “That is why I have to lead this delegation here, I would have sent someone but I said no, not for Rotimi, he transverses the courageous path, and he is a great son of Oduduwa and a star of the progressive government.”