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  • Tinubu felicitates Ogunsilire at 83, Gbong Gwom Jos at 72, Governor Yahaya at 62

    Tinubu felicitates Ogunsilire at 83, Gbong Gwom Jos at 72, Governor Yahaya at 62

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated Major Olatubokun Ogunsilire on her 83rd birthday.

     The President also felicitated the Paramount Ruler of the Berom Kingdom, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, on today’s celebration of his 72nd birthday, and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya on the celebration of his 62nd birthday anniversary yesterday.

     A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, said President Tinubu acknowledged Major Ogunsilire’s remarkable contributions to the eradication of fake drugs in Nigeria during her active years in service.

    In a personal letter addressed to the octogenarian, the President said: “As you attain the remarkable age of 83, I rejoice with you, and I join your family, friends, and well-wishers to celebrate and thank God for a life full of achievements.

     “Your success story in public service is one of dedication as well as a result-oriented and steadfast commitment to good causes. 

    “Your contribution to the eradication of fake drugs from Nigeria during your service in NAFDAC cannot be overstated. You should be proud of the part you played in making the commission what it is today. Your positive energy and optimism are contagious.”

     In another statement by Ngelale, President Tinubu acknowledged the important roles Da Jacob Gyang Buba has played in the development of society at its various strata in Nigeria, praying for a more years in renewed strength for him 

    “The President joins the family, friends and associates of the former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in celebration, while acknowledging the important contributions of the elder statesman to community, state, and national development with particular respect to the enhancement of peace, harmony and mutual co-existence in the country.

    Read Also: Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake

    “President Tinubu commends the royal father for his consistent service to the country, noting that following his retirement from the NCS in 2008, after more than 30 years in service, he did not hesitate to accept the call to serve his people in 2009, bringing to the revered throne his immense wealth of experience along with his rich legacy of public service achievement.

     “The President identifies the traditional ruler’s wisdom, maturity, and foresight as remarkable and central to his ability to consistently advocate good neighbourliness, harmony, and unity in nation-building as the Chairman of the Traditional Council of Chiefs and President of the Plateau State Traditional Council.

     “The President prays for many more years of life in good health and renewed strength for the Paramount Ruler,” the statement said.

     Also, President Tinubu lauded Governor Yahaya, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF), for his alertness in leadership, taking particular note of how he responded to the fallouts from fuel subsidy removal.

     “President Tinubu has congratulated the Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Executive Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Inuwa Yahaya, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday, describing him as a very focused leader who has a clear vision to put in place a prosperous and stable state for the benefit of his people.

     “The President commends the leadership qualities of the governor, noting his diligent implementation of policies and programmes which are aimed at achieving the economic empowerment of Gombe people through mass job creation. He further applauds the NSGF Chairman for devising practical solutions to the challenges facing the state and for making a difference in the lives of his people.

     “President Tinubu also takes note of Governor Yahaya’s penchant for responsiveness, which was witnessed most recently in his robust approach to addressing the economic situation resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, including the introduction of a 40 per cent subsidy on fertilisers and other key agricultural inputs to boost food production in Gombe State, as well as the implementation of salary increases for workers,” the statement said.

  • Tinubu’s certificate: Much ado about nothing 

    Tinubu’s certificate: Much ado about nothing 

    • Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu

    Sir: The Nigerian political realm has gone far beyond the confines of acceptable civility, now roiling and twisting and fast degenerating into an embittered field where losers are no longer comfortable with the dignity of sportsmanship and quietly accept defeat and walk gently into the good night. 

    Even bitterness must have a cordon, a confined spatiality where we must accept what fate has thrust upon us. It is foolish to play God when you know you are beaten. The enlightened sportsman washes off the bruises, seeks for balm of relief rather than a futile bashing of his head against an annihilating boulder.

    Nigeria is full of hypocritical scribblers and tendentious hallelujah chorus who could argue with equivocal mouthing depending on the flourish of the season. They would crucify and flagellate anyone in sponsored mercenary prattle, manufacturing hideous tales, spewing monstrosities to defile a foe. 

    Here facts don’t matter. Here truth is distorted, warped in dangerous, sadistic venom to destroy, to decimate, to vilify in the most heathen malicious tirade.

    Selective truth is now an art. Pseudo academics, stripped of the rigor of enlightened articulations, have withdrawn into polemical thuggery, mistaken chaotic mud-slinging for a debate, usurping riotous fury for pellucid engagement. Not true. 

    The Chicago expedition is obvious to the knowing as a failed, flawed, crude, sinister enterprise; a mockery of all that is decent and fair. 

    Nit-picking; the widening of tiny human errors, the deliberate aggravation of our common flaws, does not ennoble.  It does not elevate the sanctimonious.  No! 

    It is the ultimate refuge of the malignant; the hate-filled, the irreparably damaged cowardly loser, blindly scavenging for anything, anything at all, no matter how petty and incongruous, just to revenge and bring down the destined promptings of the hour. 

    Read Also: Medical doctor bags two years in jail for stealing hospital beds in A’Ibom

    Pray, what is in a diploma that is confirmed and affirmed by the designated authorities? The clerical error that could creep into any document, the easily explainable typographical indications? 

    Atiku is pushing the bounds of civility. He appears woven in the incurable loser’s syndrome.  Angry and bitter, mournful with unforgiving lust for vengeance.

    But he keeps forgetting that God gives power to whom He wants at any particular time. This much is signposted in all the Holy writs. You can’t query the Heavens. Heraclitus is right: “The Fates are just. The gods give us but our own.”

    It is true: The ways of God are not the ways of man.  

    The Waziri of Adamawa should know when to quit. Surely, the election is won and lost. There is a sitting president in the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. You may not like it. You may not approve of the man. But you can’t eviscerate reality if it is God ordained.  The nation must move on.  We can’t be halted forever on a solitary, intemperate, venomous crusade. When is Enough is Enough.

    •Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu,

    Lagos.

  • Tinubu greets Major Ogunsilire at 83

    Tinubu greets Major Ogunsilire at 83

    President Bola Tinubu has felicitated with Major (Dr.) Olatubokun Ogunsilire on the occasion of her 83rd birthday.

    According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu acknowledged Major Ogunsilire’s remarkable contributions to the eradication of fake drugs in Nigeria during her active years in service.

    In a personal letter addressed to the octogenarian, the President expressed gratitude to God for a life marked by excellent achievements.

    “As you attain the remarkable age of 83, I rejoice with you, and I join your family, friends, and well-wishers to celebrate and thank God for a life full of achievements. Your success story in public service is one of dedication as well as a result-oriented and steadfast commitment to good causes.

    Read Also: Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake

    “Your contribution to the eradication of fake drugs from Nigeria during your service in NAFDAC can not be overstated. You should be proud of the part you played in making the Commission what it is today. Your positive energy and optimism are contagious.

    “I thank God Almighty for His continued guidance and protection concerning your life, and I wish you more years of good health and happiness as you celebrate this special day.

    “Once more, congratulations and Happy Birthday!”, the President said.

  • Nigeria politically stable under Tinubu, says North Korean envoy

    Nigeria politically stable under Tinubu, says North Korean envoy

    The Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Jon Tong Chol, on Monday, October 9, said Nigeria is now politically stable under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

    He gave this assessment when he visited the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

    The ambassador observed that though the Tinubu-led administration took over at a difficult time, “it is apparent that the new administration is making progress in the fields of national security and revival of the economy.”

    Chol, who emphasised the need to exchange ideas between the two nations also sought for a partnership between APC and the ruling Workers Party of Korea.

    According to the Korean leader: “I see that Nigeria is now a politically stable country, and we see the achievements made in the fight against terrorists, such as Boko Haram and also the separatist groups.

    “We cannot achieve progress in nation building apart from securing peace of the country.

    “And we see that not only the administration but the leadership of the ruling party (APC) has been composed of very convenient, statesmen.

    “The ruling political party of Korea which is the Workers Party of Korea wishes to strengthen ties with your political party.

    “So far, we have sustained cooperation and collaboration between the parties. But we still lack some substance. The Workers Party of Korea prioritizes expanding relations with the ruling parties of Nigeria.”

    The Ambassador then requested for an exchange of delegation, to develop relations and cooperation between APC and the Workers Party of Korea.

    Ganduje welcomed the idea of strengthening the relationship between the two countries, stressing that this would bring about the development of the people.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO

    He said: “Every from various of development should be encouraged. We need to share experiences. The dichotomy between capitalism and socialism has become less since the demise of the Soviet Union.

    “The issue of ideology is squarely on the development of the people. So, we welcome good relationships between your country and APC in Nigeria.  We will welcome invitations from your country and also officials from your party in Nigeria.

    “It is important we compare notes as political parties. It is important to compare the functions of the political parties. It is important to compare the role of the political party in governance.

    “It is also important to compare the role of political parties in recruiting members into the party. And also in recruiting elective officers for governance.  The role of the party in the overall development of the country.”

  • FULL PROFILE: Meet Tinubu’s new media team

    FULL PROFILE: Meet Tinubu’s new media team

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday, October 9, approved the appointment of Fela Durotoye and four others to serve in the office of the president under the media and publicity directorate.

    The appointment was announced by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale in a press release on Monday, October 9.

    Here’s what you need to know about the appointees:

    1. Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice):

    Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on 12 May 1971.

    He is a business consultant, leadership expert, and motivational speaker.

    He was the Nigerian presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria party (ANN) for the 2019 presidential elections.

    He is the new Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values & Social Justice.

    2. Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement):

    Fredrick Nwabufo was born in Lagos State, and he hails from Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

    He is a columnist, journalist, thought leader, communications strategist, and media consultant with extensive experience in investigative reporting, writing (features, policy & brief), editing, publishing, communications, and media management.

    He has conducted many high-profile interviews with such figures as President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nobel Laureate, Malala Yousafzai.

    3. Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications):

    Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe is a senior reporter and anchor with an experienced history of working in the broadcast media industry.

    Read Also: Ignore distractions, ex-APC senators advise Tinubu

    She is skilled in News Writing, Journalism, Program Production and Presentation, Editing, and Media Relations.

    She has a Master of Arts – MA in Media, Communications, and PR from the University of Leicester (MA Media, Communications and PR).

    She has worked at Channels Television for 15 years.

    4. Mr. Aliyu Audu:

    He is the new Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs.

    5. Mr. Francis Adah Abah:

    He is the Personal Assistant to the President on Special Duties.

  • UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Fela Durotoye, Linda Akhigbe, three others as SSAs

    UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Fela Durotoye, Linda Akhigbe, three others as SSAs

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed former presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and popular public speaker, Fela Durotoye along with four others as aides.

    Also appointed in the new list are Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe, Fredrick Nwabufo, Aliyu Audu, and Francis Adah Abah.

    A statement issued by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the new appointees would serve under the media and publicity directorate of the office of the president.

    While Durotoye is to serve as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values and Social Justice, Akhigbe, who has been designated Senior Special Assistant to the President on Strategic Communications, has been seconded to the Office of the President of the ECOWAS to serve as the communications adviser to the president.

    He said: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following men and women to serve in the Office of the President under the Media & Publicity Directorate with full respect for the tenets of Nigeria’s federal character principle and the supremacy of merit:

    “Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice); Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement); Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications); Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs); and Mr Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties).

    Read Also: Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO

    “President Tinubu has further approved the secondment of Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe to serve as the Communications Adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

    “The President tasks all new appointees who are serving in the Media & Publicity directorate to uphold the highest standards of decorum and decency in their engagements with all members of the public as they advance the President’s determined bid to renew the hope of Nigerians in a restructured economy and unified society that caters sufficiently to the needs of all, regardless of any differences.”

    Until her new appointment, Nwabuwa Akhigbe was still in the employment of a major television outlet, Channels Television.

    While Nwabufo has been identified as a journalist and communications specialist, Audu is a chieftain of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and served as Chairman of one of the ruling party’s pressure groups, the APC Rebirth.

  • Southeast senators push for more ministerial slots, beg Tinubu

    Southeast senators push for more ministerial slots, beg Tinubu

    The senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Osita Ngwu, has said that the southeast Senate caucus is not relenting in its quest for more ministerial slots for the region.

    Ngwu, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Enugu, said that the president might have fulfilled the constitutional requirements by appointing a minister for each of the five states in the region.

    He added that they had an unflinching belief that President Bola Tinubu would sentimentally address the demand of the senators to have additional ministerial slots.

    The senator stressed that he and the other Southeast senators were not comfortable with the five ministerial appointments given to the region, saying that they would not be confrontational about it but would employ dialogue to achieve the desired objective.

    He emphasized that the senators had decided that the region would no longer be relegated to the background but treated fairly, lamenting that whereas some zones had as many as 10 slots, Southeast is given only five.

    Ngwu, who expressed hope that a solution was underway for the Southeast, disclosed that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was already wading in to address the issue for them.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO

    He said: “His Excellency Senator Akpabio is a man who works his talk. We don’t have any doubt as to his intervention because he assured us he is going to take it up with President Bola Tinubu to redress the injustice. We see it as an injustice to the Southeast and we have spoken.

    “So, we will be patient to know the feedback the Senate president is going to give back to us. We are not going to rest. We will continue to talk about it until the Southeast is given its due place in Nigeria.

    “In fact, some zones have 10 ministers. But in the southeast, we have only five. I think it is the height of injustice. But we will keep negotiating and dialoguing.

    “Nigeria has a constitution with which the federation is governed. However, sentiments can come in. And when they come in, you ask the government to look at it from that angle.

    “If the president has met the constitutional requirements, we will ask him to look at the sentimental requirements too so that all of us will feel carried along.”

  • BREAKING: Tinubu appoints Fela Durotoye, four others in media advisory team

    BREAKING: Tinubu appoints Fela Durotoye, four others in media advisory team

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Fela Durotoye and four others to serve in the office of the president under the media and publicity directorate.

    The appointment was announced by Chief Ajuri Ngelale in a press release on Monday, October 9.

    Here’s the list of the new appointees:

    (1) Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice)

    (2) Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement)

    Read Also: Ignore distractions, ex-APC senators advise Tinubu

    (3) Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications)

    (4) Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs)

    (5) Mr. Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties)

    Details soon…

  • Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO

    Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO

    TAF Africa, an international non-governmental organization, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors, to consider appointments of People With Disabilities (PWDs) as ministers and commissioners, saying that a group that constitutes 35million of the Nigerian population cannot be ignored.

    The NGO, which is currently working to strengthen institutions on governance and rule of law for disability inclusion at the Grassroots, made the call in Kaduna on Monday when it took its advocacy to the Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board.

    Leading the TAF Africa team, the programme manager, Olayemi Samuel said that TAF Africa was in Kaduna to seek partnership with the board on ensuring participation of PWDs in the electoral process, with a particular target on the grassroots.

    He said: “We are here this morning to seek partnership on one of our projects supported by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives which aims to strengthen institutions on governance and rule of law for disability people improvement from the grassroots. 

     “A number of policies have been put in place that promote the participation of persons with disabilities, including the Electoral Act 2022. However, we want to bring this down to the state level, by ensuring the PWDs participate fully in the electoral process and we are going to do this with the Disability Affairs Board to engage relevant stakeholders and ensure that relevant frameworks are being enhanced to promote the participation of PWDs.”

    Read Also: Tinubu, governors to Kogi voters: don’t follow strangers, vote tested hands

    Speaking on the appointment of PWDs, Samuel said, the appointment of PWDs in public offices in Nigeria is very low and is worrisome, noting that, none of about 50 ministers so far appointed is a representative of the PWDs community, which he said shows that they are being neglected, and discriminated against.

    He, however, said: “We want a situation where we have representatives of PWDs as ministers, commissioners and heads of parastatals. If you want to initiate or implement a policy it will be good that you have the primary beneficiaries of such policy. The kind of input you get from them, and the support you get from them in the implementation of such policy is crucial.

    “As it is now, the disability community which constitutes about 35 million of Nigeria’s population are not being carried along and we have made frantic effort to reach the President through an open letter, demanding and advocating for the appointment of PWDs as Ministers. We are using this medium again to call on all relevant stakeholders and the President, Governors, and local government chairmen to consider the appointment of PWDs into government. 

    “Among PWDs, we have PhD holders, lawyers that have the capacity and can contribute to the governance and development of this country. Of course, if you have someone with a Disability as a humanitarian Minister, you should expect such a person to perform better being part of PWDs because they will be promoting the rights of PWDs and ensure their rights are not trampled upon. The issue of discrimination will be minimized.”

    In her response, the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Hajia Rakiya Umar said the Board welcomes the partnership with TAF Africa, saying that, it will be willing to work with the NGO, especially in the area of awareness creation for Kaduna State Disability Law and prevention of diseases that can lead to some form of disabilities.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the President of Persons Living With Physical Disabilities in Kaduna State, Malam Rilwan Mohammed, said legal frameworks were no longer the challenges of PWD, but the implementation of the existing laws, adding that, if the Kaduna State disability law is fully implemented, all the challenges of PWDs will be addressed.

  • Tinubu celebrates Gombe governor Yahaya at 62

    Tinubu celebrates Gombe governor Yahaya at 62

    President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the governor of Gombe state, Inuwa Yahaya, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday anniversary.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu lauded Governor Yahaya, who is also the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) for his alertness in leadership, taking particular note of how he responded to fall outs from fuel subsidy removal.

    The statement read: “President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Executive Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Inuwa Yahaya, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday, describing him as a very focused leader who has a clear vision to put in place a prosperous and stable state for the benefit of his people.

    Read Also: Tinubu, governors to Kogi voters: don’t follow strangers, vote tested hands

    “The President commends the leadership qualities of the Governor, noting his diligent implementation of policies and programmes which are aimed at achieving the economic empowerment of Gombe people through mass job creation. He further applauds the NSGF Chairman for devising practical solutions to the challenges facing the state and for making a difference in the lives of his people.

    “President Tinubu also takes note of Governor Inuwa’s penchant for responsiveness, which was witnessed most recently in his robust approach to addressing the economic situation resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, including the introduction of a 40% subsidy on fertilizers and other key agricultural inputs to boost food production in Gombe State, as well as the implementation of salary increases for workers.”

    President Tinubu also prayed for Governor Yahaya, saying “It is my prayer that as you add another year to your life, God Almighty will imbue you with renewed strength and vigour to continue to work in the best interest of Gombe State, the Northern region, and the entire country.”