The Labour Party has described the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar’s merger proposal as a good proposal that should be considered.

But the New Nigeria People’s Party said it could only accept the proposal if Atiku would support a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

The major opposition parties were reacting to the call by Atiku, on Tuesday, that opposition parties should enter a merger to dislodge the APC from power.

The PUNCH reports that Atiku made the merger proposition while hosting the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria.

The former Vice President warned against the likelihood of Nigeria slipping into a one-party state.

He said, “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn.”

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, described Atiku’s call as a good preposition that should be considered by every Nigerian.

Ifoh said, “Atiku’s call is a proposition, and every Nigeria will consider a good proposition that is meant to remove the Octopus in power because they are not democrats.

“Every Nigerian is interested in having a true democracy. What we have now is far away from democracy. So, if there is a preposition by opposition elements to ensure that democracy is installed, why not? That preposition must be given a good thought. Anything that will make Nigerians witness democracy is accepted.”

But the NNPP described Atiku’s call as emotional and medicine after death.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Shendam, said any merger being considered must be to support Kwankwaso to become President, otherwise, the NNPP was not interested.

Shendam said, “This is like medicine after death. If there is any future collaboration, it should not be as a result of emotions. We are going all along because we have a gladiator who has the capacity to take over Nigeria.

“We believe that there is a need to canvass for support from people to win the election, from all sides. However, we believe that single-handedly Kwankwaso can deliver Nigeria in 2027.

“But that doesn’t mean that we are not looking for players like Atiku to join our party. If there is going to be a merger, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring, so, he should support Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

“We don’t want to join forces with people who are under emotions but we are comfortable as a party having a person like Rabiu Kwankwaso, as our national leader. We are calling on Atiku as an elder brother to close ranks with Kwankwaso if he wants to be relevant in 2027.”

Meanwhile, the ruling APC said it was not moved or threatened by Atiku’s call for opposition parties to close ranks against the ruling party.

The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, said, “How and why should we (be threatened)? Atiku has been trashed in the court and trashed in the public opinion. In what way does Atiku and his party have the wherewithal to instill threat in the mind of the party in power?

“The PDP, as far as Nigeria is concerned, is inconsequential. Atiku and the PDP do not have the power to instill fear in the ruling party, especially a party that is progressive.”

‘Superhero Omo Adugbo’, a new album, by the late rapper Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, is set for release.

The album is scheduled for release on November 16, two days after his death.

A search on the music streaming platform, Apple Music, showed that the 17-track album features the late Dagrin’s brother TROD and, according to the ‘Chache’ crooner in an interview with Naija FM in October, the late Mohbad.

Oladips died on Tuesday, November 14, at 28.

Before his demise, the ‘Chache’ crooner founded his label ‘Dipsciples Music,’ where he released an array of street bops.

On Wednesday, November 15, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that it generated N74.28 billion as revenue from imports between January to October 2023.

The command also intercepted Tramadol worth N3.55 billion imported into Nigeria from Pakistan and India.

Disclosing this at briefing, Customs Area Comptroller, Muhammed Yusuf said the command has recorded strides in the last ten months as a trade facilitation agency at one of the country’s air borders.

According to Yusuf, what was collected in 2023 was higher than the 2022 collection by 23 percent.

He said: “During the period under review January — October 2023, the Command collected revenue to the tune of N74.28 billion from Customs duty and other charges. In comparison to the revenue collected same period in 2022 which stood at N60.05 billion.

“This clearly shows a progressive difference of N14.23billion depicting a 23 percent increase in collection. The Command so far has met 76.34 percent of its annual target. This was made possible as a result of the resilience of officers in ensuring that agents were made to do proper declarations and to adhere strictly to import/export guidelines in tandem with extant laws.”

The Customs boss, however, disclosed that in anti-smuggling, the Command Intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products suspected to be tramadol tablets worth N3.55 billion imported into the country.

Yusuf stated further that the shipment was intercepted on suspicion of exceeding the approved threshold by the federal government.

He added: “In the area of anti-smuggling activities. The Command has intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products suspected to be Tramadol tablets. The shipment was intercepted on the suspicion of exceeding the approved threshold by the Federal Government. The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at N3.55billion.”

He, however, urged officers of the Command to remain steadfast and focused in the discharge of their duties.

“I want to use this medium to profoundly thank the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment as regards the renovation in the Command. Let me extend the same gratitude to the Officers and Men of Murtala Muhammed Airport Command. I also want to urge Officers and men of the Command to remain focused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities.”

The Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command has said its operatives have arrested a suspected robber, simply identified as Ali, on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect was arrested while carrying out nefarious activities on Tuesday.

According to Benjamin, preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect usually disguises as a beggar in the area to perpetrate crime.

He said the suspect has been terrorizing unsuspecting motorists and robbing them of their cash and valuables under the threat of violence.

The police spokesman said the suspect will be arraigned upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

The statement reads, “A notorious traffic robber, one Ali ‘m’, has been arrested in the Ikate area of Lekki, Lagos State.

“The suspect was arrested while carrying out his nefarious activities on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, through the combined efforts of residents and the police.

“Preliminary investigation so far reveals that the suspect who posed as a beggar on Lekki-Epe Expressway, terrorized unsuspecting motorists and robbed them of their cash and valuables under the threat of violence”.

The organised labour, on Wednesday night, directed all the affiliate unions to resume work on Thursday.

Naija News understands that the directive was issued following the suspension of the indefinite strike that started on Tuesday, November 14.

The suspension of the strike was a sequel to the mediation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugbaja, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, announcing the suspension of the indefinite strike in a statement, said the suspension was intended to facilitate further discussions after the federal government had met the organized labour’s crucial demands to address the distressing abduction and brutalization of the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, and others.

The statement read, “Sequel to the emergency joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC and TUC today, the 15th day of November, 2023 in which a thorough review of the offers presented by the federal government through the National Security Adviser during its earlier meeting with the leadership of both centers was made, a resolution was reached to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike, which commenced on the 14th November, 2023.

“This suspension is intended to facilitate further discussions after the federal government had met our crucial demands to address the distressing abduction and brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and others.

“These incidents occurred at the hands of the Police and Governor Hope Uzodimma’s thugs in Owerri, Imo state, on the 1st day of November, 2023.

“An apology was tendered on behalf of the government by The NSA, who promised to coordinate the investigation. Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted.

“High-powered investigation is currently being carried out and the leadership of the labour centers will be briefed continuously as progress is being made.

“We extend our commendation and salute to all affiliates and state councils for their unwavering commitment and tenacity, which contributed to the success of the nationwide strike.

“Therefore, all affiliates and State councils of both the NLC and TUC are hereby directed to demobilize, cease any further escalation of the indefinite strike action, and fully resume work tomorrow, Thursday, the 16th day of November, 2023.

“Once again, we convey our appreciation for your cooperation, resilience, and determination in ensuring the success of the indefinite nationwide strike.

“We encourage you to remain vigilant as we await the fulfillment of the remaining agreements.”

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State, Athan Achonu, has distanced himself from the report making the rounds that he had visited and congratulated the winner of the election, Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress.

Achonu in a statement released through his spokesperson, Chibuikem Diala, described himself as the true winner of the election.

According to Achonu, visiting Uzodinma and congratulating him was a “wishful thinking that can never happen.”

The statement described the rumour “as a script from the pit of hell and could only be the handwork of evil minds, which this government is well known for.

“After foisting the worst electoral heist on Imo State, the governor and his bootlickers are spreading fake news purporting that his opponents in last Saturday’s election had paid him a congratulatory visit.”

He described the congratulatory story as “childish and very poorly written.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Achonu had since categorically rejected the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and called for its review and cancellation.

“He had also held a joint press briefing with Samuel Anyanwu (SamDaddy), the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, and insisted that the result of the governorship election must be reviewed or cancelled, warning that unless the INEC did so, the people might revolt.”

The three opposition presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections have been charged by a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, to come together to form a strong opposition against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

George, during an interview on Arise TV, said Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) need to form a stronger force against President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “We, as the opposition, must go back and recognize ourselves. Let us get back to the constitution of the party, everybody should bury the hatchet and tell ourselves the truth about power and reconfigure the party. Where was Atiku from? PDP. What about Kwankwaso? PDP. What about Obi? PDP.

“It’s time to come back and let us revisit the constitution as written by the founding fathers. We deviated from it and became a divided house. And a divided house will always be a defeated house. We should forget about personal ambition and let us be the base. What did we do that was not right on all sides? Let’s restart the way it started and reorganize and avoid these mistakes in the future.

“Before we went to the 2023 general elections, we had some problems. Some of us explained, cajoled, and tried to convince but it didn’t work. Now, if you look at the figures of the election results, if those three were all in the same party, which party would be in the villa by now?

“So let us now decide. And we will decide by the grace of the Almighty God. We will sit together and remove the differences and sort things out so we can be one and get back to where we were. So that we will be able to give a solid opposition.”

Renowned Fuji musician, Akorede Babatunde Okunola, better known as Saheed Osupa or King Saheed Osupa, has graduated from the University of Ibadan (UI).

The 54-year-old bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with second-class upper.

The elated musician confirmed this via his Facebook account on Wednesday, noting that he graduated with Second Class honours.

He wrote: “It is official. Today, I attended the Convocation Ceremony of the University Of Ibadan, where I graduated, bagging a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) in Political Science with Second Class Honour, Upper Division.

“The public should be aware that King (Dr.) Saheed Osupa Akorede is a graduate of the prestigious University Of Ibadan, Class 21.’ Alhamdulilahi.”

The University of Ibadan held her 2023 Convocation and 75th Foundation Day Ceremonies from Wednesday, November 1, to Saturday, November 17.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has said the reason it cancelled the visas of 264 Nigerians upon entry into the country.

Recall that the Saudi Arabian government had cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, on arrival at the country from Kano, insisting that they be returned to Nigeria.

The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday night and landed at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah.

It was gathered when the Nigerian embassy waded into the situation, the Saudi authorities reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 177 from 264.

However, in a statement released on Wednesday, the Saudi Embassy said the Nigerians who were deported didn’t fulfil the entry conditions and requirements by the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom.

The statement added the deportation of the passengers was not targeting Nigerians.

The statement reads: “The passengers who were denied entry and subsequently deported to their initial destinations didn’t fulfil the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom, as they submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that doesn’t apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival.

“This procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries.”

The Royal Saudi Embassy also issued cautionary measures for applicants wishing to visit the Arabian Peninsula.

It added: “The Royal Embassy would like to stress the importance of following the procedures and laws enacted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors.

“Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions before departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”

The details of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and Organised Labour meeting over the ongoing nationwide strike have emerged.

Naija News earlier reported that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, and other government officials had met with labour leaders to address the national industrial action.

The meeting comes after Ribadu had said the attackers of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, have been arrested and appealed to labour unions to call off the strike.

Speaking at the end of the meeting with reporters, the President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who led other labour leaders to the meeting, said they had a robust conversation with the government officials.

He added that a lot of assurances were given in furtherance to the statement by the NSA that some people had been apprehended and that he would coordinate the investigation.

The TUC president added that the promises made by the government officials would be taken to their respective organs, and they would communicate accordingly.

He said: “We just came here for a meeting. NSA invited us for a meeting, and as you can see, two ministers from the Ministry of Labour and Employment also participated.

“We had a lot of robust conversations where a lot of assurances were given in furtherance to the release that the NSA issued this morning, that some people had been apprehended, and that he would coordinate the investigation.

“We also told him our part of the story. At the end of the day, they made several appeals to us and several promises on what and what they are going to do and the ones they have done currently.

“We then said, let’s go back; we will re-appraise the conversations that we’ve had, and we will communicate accordingly. The strike was caused by something. The strike is a symptom of problems, so it is the problems we came here for, to have conversations on.

“With all the assurances they have given us, with the office of the NSA promising to coordinate everything, every discussion we’ve had here, we need to take it back to our organs.”

Osifo was flanked by the NLC Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro; and other labour leaders.

Also addressing journalists, Lalong said the meeting was held at the office of the NSA because of the security considerations associated with the strike and its genesis.

He said the two sides had frank, fruitful and genuine discussions on steps that the government has taken to address the concerns of labour over the incident in Imo State.

Lalong said the government officials were okay with labour leaders’ stance that they would take the outcome of the meeting back to their members and consider the plea of the government to call off the strike in the interest of the nation.

He was flanked by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha; Acting Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry, Emmanuel Igbinosa, and the Director of Trade Union Services.