Author: Festus Adeloye

A former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Salihu Lukman, has resigned from the governing party. His disengagement from the party was contained in a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12, titled: “APC and The Future of Nigerian Democracy: Letter to Selected APC Leaders.” The former national vice chairman (North West) hinged his decision on the lack of internal democracy and inability of the leadership of the party to allow the much needed reforms within the party. The former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in…

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has signed into law, 10 Bills recently passed by the Benue State House of Assembly in its first legislative year. Signing the Bills in Makurdi, the governor explained that “the laws are meant to protect the general safety of Benue people and also ensure that their rights as citizens are not abuse by others.” He also emphasized that the new laws were not targeted at anyone or political party and urged the people of the state to shun those fueling such sentiments. According to Governor Alia, the new laws “would make the people understand…

German coach Gernot Rohr believes the Super Eagles coach Finidi George got his tactics wrong as The Cheetahs of Benin pulled a shock 2-1 win in their group C 2026 FIFA World Cup MatchDay 4 qualifier at the Felix Houphouet Stadium in Abidjan on Monday. The neighbouring Beninese are usually regarded as poor Nigerian cousins both in stature and football pedigree, but Rohr, who last coached the Super Eagles before berthing in Cotonou, admitted his deep knowledge of the Super Eagles helped The Cheetahs to claim a famous win in Abidjan. “We did not really expect to win (against the…

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Peter Obi, has called on political leaders to return to a truly democratic nation. Obi made this call in a statement via his verified X handle on Wednesday. According to him, democracy was beyond elections, but fulfilling the responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution. He urged Nigerian leaders to respect and protect the institutions of a democratic state, by obeying the governing laws of the state and being accountable to the people. His comments come on the heels of the 2024 celebration of Democracy Day on June 12…

President Bola Tinubu has reassured Organised Labour that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers will soon be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. Tinubu made this known on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in his Democracy Day speech. “In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with Organised Labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less,” the President said.…

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, extended his condolences to Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, and the people of Malawi over the tragic loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima and other officials in a plane crash on Monday. On Tuesday, President Chakwera announced that the wreckage of a plane carrying Malawi’s Vice President was found with no survivors. Chilima and nine others were travelling within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft vanished from airport radars. According to aviation authorities, the military aircraft was flying in bad weather. Reacting, President Tinubu, through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and…

Teesside University in the United Kingdom has announced a new initiative to support Nigerian students facing severe financial difficulties by funding their flights home, by BBC on Tuesday. This move came after several students were removed from their courses and ordered to leave the UK due to their inability to pay tuition fees. The financial crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by a shift from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment plan by the university, left many students struggling to cover their expenses. A local food charity reported that 75 per cent of its clients are now Nigerian students, highlighting the extent…

A former Director of Currency Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CJN) Ahmed Bello Umar told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory FCT in Maitama on Tuesday that the redesigned naira notes produced under ex-Governor Godwin Emefiele was different from the specification approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Umar, who said he was in office during the naira redesign exercise, said although President Buhari gave approval on October 13, 2022 for a specific design of the N1000, N500 and N200 notes but that the specification approved by the ten President was allegedly altered. He spoke while testifying…

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Indonesian business conglomerate, the Tolaram Group, for believing in Nigeria and having absolute faith in its economy. Tolaram, which partnered Nigeria to build the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the country’s first deep sea port, has acquired Diageo’s 58.02 per cent shareholding in Guinness Nigeria Plc. According to an announcement at the Nigerian Exchange on Tuesday, Tolaram will also enter into long-term license and royalty agreements for the continued production of the Guinness products and its locally manufactured Diageo ready-to-drink and mainstream brands. Tinubu said Tolaram, by acquiring Diageo’s shares in Guinness, had shown…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned individuals and groups planning to stage protests on June 12, Democracy Day, to desist from any violent or disruptive actions. In a statement released on Tuesday night and signed by Dr Peter Afunanya, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, the DSS said it has received intelligence on plans to incite violence and disrupt public order during the protests. The security agency vowed to maintain public safety and national security and urged citizens to resist any persuasions to engage in lawless acts. The DSS also encouraged disgruntled persons to channel their grievances…