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In a recent interview on Daddy Freeze’s podcast, popular music executive Paulo Okoye, revealed that Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy is the richest musician in Nigeria.
According to Paulo Okoye, Burna Boy earned between $70 million and $80 million in 2023 alone.
During the podcast, Paulo discussed Burna Boy’s modest team structure, noting that the artist’s immediate support network includes only his mother, sister, and a few close associates.
He highlighted that despite his immense wealth, Burna Boy remains humble and avoids boasting about his financial success.
In addition to commenting on Burna Boy’s financial status, Paulo Okoye also addressed rising star Rema, suggesting that the young artist has a tendency to overprice himself.
The spiritual head of the Inri evangelical church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has prophesied that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 'will die' if it decides to 'hand' Atiku Abubakar the presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
Legit.ng reports that Atiku, a former vice president, is a serial presidential aspirant having contested unsuccessfully for president of Nigeria six times: in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
The 77-year-old ran in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential primaries in 1993 but lost to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. Atiku's last two presidential pursuits have been through the PDP.
In a video shared on his known X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, August 15, Ayodele said in the event Atiku emerges as the PDP’s presidential flag-bearer again in 2027, the party "is dead”.
The cleric said: “PDP, if you want to fail, give Atiku your presidency. You will see that you will fail. It is going to be a cheap victory for APC.
Atiku is not the answer for the PDP in 2027. He is not the answer. If you try Atiku, then, politically, PDP is dead. That is the end of PDP.”
[Source: www.legit.ng]
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has discovered an illegal facility in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State that was producing various alcoholic beverages.
A statement released by the agency says after thorough surveillance, the officers discovered that several packing stores and rooms in the Oke-Arin market had been converted into makeshift factories where different brands of alcoholic drinks were being produced, packaged, and distributed in the open market.
‘’During the raid, over 2,000 cartons of empty bottles and already packaged drinks were seized, along with a mini plastic mixing tank, an improvised filter, and various packaging materials.
"Three suspects, identified as Mr Ikenna Daniel Ndeka, Mr Innocent Chike, and Mr Chukwu John, were arrested in connection with the illegal operation.'' the statement read
The agency adds that the estimated street value of the seized items at N200 million. It urged the public to remain vigilant, especially when purchasing alcoholic beverages.
An investigation is ongoing and the suspects will face prosecution upon its conclusion.
A purported 2027 presidential campaign poster featuring Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, and Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President, has been dismissed as a “figment of people’s imagination” by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR).
The spokesman for the group, Yunusa Tanko stated, “It’s just people’s imagination. There’s no hint of a presidential run, but we’re working for the good of the people.”
The disputed poster, which has been circulating online, shows Saraki as the presidential candidate and Obi as his running mate, with the slogan “Let’s restore our country back, come 2027.”
It should be noted that both Saraki and Obi have yet to officially declare any intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Saraki is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Obi is still a member of the Labour Party (LP), having defected from the PDP during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
We Were Pressured To Ask INEC To Cancel 2023 Presidential Elections – Gen. Abdulsalami’s Peace C’ttee
AFOLABI
The National Peace Committee (NPC) has revealed details of behind-the-scenes maneuvers by partisans and other unnamed elements during the 2023 Presidential Election, disclosing that it came under immense pressure to persuade the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to either halt the collation of results or cancel the election entirely.
The NPC, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, made these revelations on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of its 106-page report on the 2023 General Elections, titled ‘Nigeria’s Pursuit of Electoral Compliance: National Peace Committee NPC 2023 General Elections Report’.
General Abubakar highlighted the immense pressure exerted on the committee during the election process as partisan forces sought to influence the election outcome through various means.
According to him, the report provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced during the election and recommendations for improving future electoral processes in Nigeria.
Before the public presentation of the report, the NPC had earlier met with INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and other senior management staff of the commission.
During the meeting, they were briefed on INEC’s preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Other members of the committee are Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (Vice Chairman); Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Convener); Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; John Cardinal Onaiyekan; business icons, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola; Vanguard Newspapers Publisher, Sam Amuka Pemu; Ameze Guobadia; Idayat Hassan; Dame Priscilla Kuye; Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; Channels TV owner, John Momoh; Roseline Ukeje; and, Fr. Atta Barkindo, its Head of Secretariat.
The report reads, “As the election day progressed, criticisms and counter criticisms became abundant. The NPC was already being faced with a flurry of phone calls and the need to call INEC to order. The Peace Committee was flooded with requests for intervention. Both the Chairman of the Committee, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, the Convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Head of NPC Secretariat, Fr. Atta Barkindo, were inundated with calls, requests, and petitions demanding the intervention of the NPC.
“Some of the requests wanted the NPC to prevail on INEC to stop collating election results because there were gross violations and lack of compliance with the electoral act. Others demanded that the tenets of the Peace Accord signed were not adhered to and therefore the Committee should call for cancellation of the election entirely.
“The most significant call was related to the 25% threshold for Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory. Some of the analysts who reached out to the committee asked that the final election result should not be announced because the resumptive president-elect did not score the required 25% as stated in the electoral act. If anything, there should be a runoff.
“For example, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy described the silence of National Peace Committee (NPC) as deafening in spite of the avalanche of election petitions and likely far-reaching outcomes that could follow the decisions. The Centre stated that the NPC led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) had prior to the 2023 elections engaged political leaders on the need for a peaceful and credible election. However, what was missing was a post- election formal statement of the NPC on the outcome of the election and the sort of intervention needed to prevent widespread violence.
“The biggest bone of contention was the significance of the 25% threshold for the FCT, the vacuum created by pre-election legal interpretation that was not given by INEC.
“Within the general context of the mandate of the Peace Committee, there were requests that demanded the Committee to go beyond its mandate and to interfere in an electoral process that only agencies empowered by law can do so.
“The interventions provided by the NPC is purely and squarely moral, particularly in a context that trust deficit is widespread, the culture of impunity and lack of compliance with laws. The mandate is founded on the need to promote peace, prevent widespread violence and encourage parties and candidates to uphold the rule of law.
“The NPC has no mandate to arrest violators of process or interfere with the constitutional duties of INEC. It is set up to provide moral intervention, defined by mediation and moral persuasion to ensure that there is peace. It is also expected to, on behalf of public interest, speak truth to power when things are going terribly wrong. After the presidential elections, the NPC has continued with its engagements with political parties, youth and women led groups, persons with disabilities, the security agencies, traditional rulers and religious leaders, including the Independent State-based Peace Architectures.
“Most people are not aware that the NPC provides only a moral intervention, and it has no constitutional duty to arrest, punish or prosecute any citizen for any wrongdoing. Rather, the Committee has the moral obligation to encourage, persuade and appeal to political actors, community leaders and other stakeholders on the importance of peace. This limited awareness has forced some Nigerians to question the significance of engaging with the NPC if only what the committee brings to the table is moral persuasion. This is a challenge for the work of the Committee.”
The arrest of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has sparked widespread outrage.
Hadejia, who served as a special adviser to Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara State Governor, was arrested on Monday by security operatives.
According to a search warrant issued to the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Police Command, dated August 12, 2024, Hadejia is accused of “treason and subversion against the state.”
The arrest has raised significant concerns, with many questioning the nature of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the case.
Shortly after news of his arrest broke, photos and videos of Hadejia with prominent politicians and celebrities began circulating on social media.
In one particular video clip, seen by Saturday Punch on X (formerly Twitter), Hadejia is seen displaying what appears to be a gold bar with the image of former Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffi.
In the 14-second video, Hadejia is heard saying, “One tonne, total 24 carats, 1kg. In each box, we have 50kg; in total, we have one tonne.”
Thirteen boxes, labelled “Central Bank of Libya,” were seen filled with gold bars on the table.
A photo that has since gone viral shows Hadejia accompanying Matawalle in presenting some gold bars to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2020.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to Buhari, also shared photos on social media showing Hadejia assisting Matawalle in presenting the gold to the former president.
The post read, “President Muhammadu Buhari last night at his residence, the State House, Abuja, received Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle accompanied by Alhaji Bashir Hadejia. Gov. Matawalle was at the State House to present some gold bars and other precious stones mined in his State. Describe the visuals.”
He was also seen in another picture having a handshake with President Bola Tinubu.
According to Punch, Hadejia was nicknamed ‘Villa boy’ because of his close connection to the Villa.
In pictures seen online, Hadejia was standing side-by-side with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
He was also seen in several photos facilitating a meeting between the Arewa Consultative Forum and northern politicians with President Tinubu.
A popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as Kwam 1, dedicated a track to extol Hadejia in his Timeless album.
In the track, KI described Hadejia as his friend and that of former governor of Jigawa and now Minister of Defence, Badaru.
“I am going to the North, from Jigawa to Abuja. I am going there to see a distinguished personality, Alhaji Bashir Hadejia is the husband of Aisha, the child of Mohammed Ali, a very big man. He is K1 de ultimate’s friend. He is an ally of Jigawa State calculator, friend to governor Badaru,” Ayinde sang.
Northern Forum Demands Probe
A spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The revelations surrounding Hadejia’s alleged involvement in criminal activities have sent shockwaves through the nation, with Suleiman describing them as “appalling” and a significant threat to Nigeria’s stability.
While the NEF has yet to discuss the matter at the organizational level, Suleiman, speaking in his personal capacity, did not mince words.
“As a Nigerian with conscience, I can competently say that the revelations surrounding the arrest of Bashir Hadejia are appalling. The nefarious activities reportedly uncovered by the arrest pose a severe threat not only to the sovereignty of our great nation but also to the very fabric of our society,” Suleiman said.
Hadejia’s arrest has reportedly unveiled a complex network of crimes, including gun-running, treason, and cross-border activities linked to international criminal syndicates.
Suleiman commended the Nigerian security agencies for apprehending Hadejia and unravelling such a complex criminal network but warned that the arrest was just the beginning.
“The roots of this menace run deep, and Nigerian authorities must act decisively,” Suleiman emphasized, stressing the need for a comprehensive investigation to dismantle the entire network.
Of particular concern, according to Suleiman, were Hadejia’s alleged connections to international criminal syndicates, including smuggling stolen gold from Libya and supporting terrorism.
He described these activities as “an affront to our sovereignty and an invasion of our peace,” warning that criminal networks like these do not respect national borders.
Adding to the alarm, Suleiman pointed to Hadejia’s alleged role in sponsoring protests such as the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, which led to violence in the North.
He criticized how criminal elements exploited legitimate grievances to sow instability.
“It is shocking to learn that anyone connected to the devastations of recent protests in northern Nigeria had ulterior motives,” he stated.
Furthermore, Suleiman raised concerns about Hadejia’s reported connections with powerful political figures, including a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and urged the government to take decisive action.
NYSC To Prosecute Bread Seller, 53 Other Fake UNICAL Graduates Mobilized For National Service
AFOLABI
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced the demobilisation of 54 corps members who the University of Calabar improperly mobilised.
Naija News reports that the service took this decision in its ongoing commitment to ensure that only qualified graduates receive the national service certificate,
During a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, explained that the individuals guilty in this regard would be subject to legal action.
Ahmed disclosed that 19 others who had registered online for mobilisation had been barred from participating in the service, and the organisation did not issue four Certificates of National Service for other offenders.
This adds to the previously voided 101 certificates, bringing the total to 178, Naija News reports.
The Director General also commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, for her transparency in alerting the NYSC about the mobilisation of unqualified graduates from her institution.
General Ahmed concluded that the NYSC is dedicated to thoroughly reviewing and improving its mobilisation procedures.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list and they ought not to have been there.
“She checked the list the school gave us and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated. I give kudos to the Vice-Chancellor.
“Previously, a bread seller was mobilised on the graduation list from the same institution; there are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates”, the DG said.
General Ahmed further emphasized that the initiative would enhance its cooperation with all Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and pertinent stakeholders across the nation to combat the issue effectively.
He also remarked that any shortcomings in the mobilization efforts from any educational institution reflect on the integrity of that institution’s management.
“Those who are responsible for imputing the data of graduates should be people of integrity”, General Ahmed said.
He called on all labour employers in the country to verify the authenticity of the certificates of national service being presented for job placement by the NYSC
Buhari’s Aide Reacts As Kano Govt Pegs LG Chair, Councillor Forms At ₦10 Million, ₦5 Million
AFOLABI
A former aide to ex-president, Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmed, has decried that the party’s candidates cannot afford the price of the nomination form for the Kano State local government election.
The Kano State Independent National Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) put the nomination form for chairmanship and councillorship positions at ₦10 million and ₦5 million, respectively.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bashir Ahmed, said no party member interested in the positions can afford the nomination forms.
Ahmed further questioned the decision of KANSIEC to put nomination forms for sale instead of the political parties.
“I am asking this question again because I still haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer, why did KANSIEC, the Kano electoral body, set a nomination fee for those interested in contesting in the upcoming chairmanship and councilorship elections in the state, instead of allowing the political parties to do so?
“I’ve been asking because the electoral body has set the nomination fee at ₦10 million for the chairman and ₦5 million for the councillor. I doubt that our party, as the opposition in the state, can afford such high fees if even the ruling party can.
“The electoral body only provides election forms to successful candidates after parties have conducted their primaries, and these forms are given for free. What the Kano electoral body is planning to sell are the nomination forms, which are typically purchased from parties,” Ahmed said.
A check by our reporter showed that under the immediate former governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje, the then KANSIEC chairman, Mukhtari Yahya Usman, announced the sale of nomination forms for local government election from October 19 to December 03, 2020.
The Bishop of the Living Faith Church worldwide, David Olaniyi Oyedepo, has advised youths to follow God’s plans.
David Oyedepo urged youths not to make decisions without God. He said only God can lead anyone to stardom in one’s career and not otherwise.
“Don’t pack your bag and ask God if you should go. Don’t tempt God. Asked God for his plan because his plan is already blessed,” Oyedepo said.
He explained that knowing the plan of God requires one to “separate yourselves to a quiet place to hear God“.
“You need an ornament of a quiet and meek spirit to hear God speak. One must be in the spirit to hear the voice of the spirit, and one must be spiritual to embrace the voice of the spirit,” he emphasized.
The Living Faith General Overseer said at the church’s Annual Youths Alive Convention, AYAC2024, on Saturday.
“Access to the voice of God is what takes you to stardom. We are where we are today as a church by following the voice of the spirit.
“Staying where God says you should stay and doing what God says you should do is what guarantees your stardom.
“The voice of the Lord is in the Bible, and following what God says makes you a frontline in your chosen career. But you need an open ear to hear what God is saying. The voice of God guarantees supernatural victory and supernatural favour.
“It allays all fears. If you hear from God, you become fearless and unstoppable. God’s voice instills supernatural confidence.
“The reason you shake is because you didn’t hear from God. You can’t hear from God and lack confidence,” Oyedepo told the church youths.
The Presidency’s statement that prices of foodstuffs have been falling recently has been rejected by Nigerians.
The Senior Special Assistant on Citizenship and Leadership to President Bola Tinubu, Rinsola Abiola, while speaking on AIT Weekend Show, on Saturday (10 August), said online vendors confirmed that food prices have started decreasing.
Mrs Abiola said the decrease in the prices of foodstuffs is a testament to the federal government’s initiatives towards addressing economic hardship and hunger, which are yielding results.
Nigerians on social media, X platform, said the statement from the Presidency did not tally with what is obtainable in the markets.
Nigerians made their opinions while reacting to a poll by Obianuju Udeh, known as DJ Switch, one of the leaders of the #Endsars protest.
DJ Switch, on Friday, wrote, “I have come across some tweets and a report saying food prices are down. My question is, is it true prices are down? If so, that would be good news. Please share what you are experiencing on ground.”
In reaction, Nigerians disagreed with the position of Rinsola Abiola. They said prices of food remained the same. On tomatoes price Mrs Abiola said came down from ₦180,000 to ₦35,000; an X user, Chinedu Okoli said there was more supply in the market due to the harvest period and not actually as a result of government policies.
For IBEZYMAKO, @Bis_realibeh, “Prices of food items remain the same. Transportation fare is on the increase because of cost of PMS and nobody is talking about it. Government of deceptive propaganda.”
Ozagu. enterprises, @OzaguE98786, argued that “it is only in the Tinubu market that items are cheap. Semo 10kg a year ago ₦6400, two months ago ₦12,300, now ₦16000-₦18000, Beans ₦5000, Yam(3) ₦7500, Milo refill ₦5500, Garri ₦2000, Rice bag ₦78000. The truth is, most have stopped eating a lot of food; Items are not affordable by most Nigerians.”
Joseph Olawale Bamidele, @olawale_bam, said, “A liter fuel now sells for at least ₦700 to ₦900. Black market goes for ₦1,300. Mudu of rice is still ₦2,700. Food price coming down is propaganda. APC will crumble.”
Chinedu Okoli, @chineduokoli_,: “The truth is that this is harvesting period for some crops. It will slow inflation but this is just temporary cos once this phase wears off, the food prices will double.
“Prices that have gone down are perishable goods o, like tomatoes and pepper that can not be stored for long period.”
Saint Adaugoijele, @JustAdaugoijele, said, “Please, no food price is down. It’s still increasing.”
Daniel Alabi, @alabi_daniel, argued, “We bought rice last month btw ₦1,200 – ₦1,300 per Derica in Itele area of Ogun State and Lagos. We still buy it same today.”
SPECIAL, @special_Ada_Ide, said, “Which food prices come down? Shey for this Lagos Nigeria abi from other states?
“A bag of rice (my choice ) ₦82k, fuel ₦900 per liter, black market is more than this, beans – a derica cup is ₦2,200, semo ₦15k.”
More...
Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a 30-year-old woman, identified as Hauwa Yusuf, for concealing an AK-47 rifle and four AK magazines inside a sack of garri.
Naija News understands that the suspect was arrested on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway during a routine stop-and-search operation.
During a press conference at the Special Tactical Squad Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that Yusuf admitted to receiving instructions from a notorious bandit, Aminu Basullube, who has been terrorizing Katsina State, to carry out the arms delivery at the Danum Madam Camp, a location within the state.
Adejobi said, “On August 14, 2024, just recently, acting on intelligence, operatives of STS intercepted one Hauwa Yusuf ‘F’ 30 years of Dutsin-Ma LGA of Katsina state. The suspect was arrested while in transit from Lafia Nasarawa State to Katsina State, inside a Sienna Bus along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
“A search was conducted and One AK-47 Rifle without breach Number and Four AK magazines concealed inside a white Sack of Garri were recovered from the suspect. “During the interrogation, the Suspect confessed that it was One Aminu Basullube, a notorious Bandit terrorizing Katsina State general axis who sent her to take delivery of the arms in Danum Madam Camp, Katsina State.”
The suspect, however, while responding to questions from journalists, claimed she didn’t know a gun was concealed in the sack of garri.
She said, “I never knew that it was an arm that was inside. They asked me to go and bring millet. And unfortunately, they did not bring Gari for me. Even when I saw the thing, I was apprehensive.
“I was given 130,000 to take the garri to Katsina. My transport fare is ₦15,000. I made a mistake by not asking questions.”
Adejobi further disclosed that a group of operatives affiliated with the FID-STS departed for Igbowo in Oyo State on April 29 to investigate the activities of Musa Saidu.
Adejobi further stated that a group of operatives from the FID-STS departed for Igbowo in Oyo State to examine the actions of Musa Saidu on April 29. He noted that the investigations indicated the suspect had been absent from his community for five years.
Following his return to Kigakwu in Kaduna State after this prolonged absence, further inquiries were conducted, and it was discovered that “He started spending money extravagantly, buying different brands of new motorcycles (BAJAJ) and twelve (12) cows in a day amounting to the sum of N5,000,000.00.
“Upon interrogation, he confessed to the above-mentioned crimes, he further confessed that he is operating under the leadership of one Haruna ‘m’ in Birnin Gwari forest of Kaduna State. Throughout his operations under the gang Commander Haruna ‘m’ he was using AK 47 rifles.”
“That twenty-five (25) cows were given to him as his proceed of his above mentioned criminal activities, that he sold the cows in Kaduna State, all at the rate of N4,700,000.00, that’s the money he used in purchasing the Bajaj motorcycles and twelve cows, ten female, two male in Igboho Oyo State,” Adejobi stated.
He clarified that his involvement in cattle rustling began after he was a victim of such acts.
The individual further stated that he was apprehended upon returning home to indulge in the gains from his illicit activities.
He said, “I went to Oyo because there were too many problems in Kaduna. I had my cattle but they were rustled. I know cattle rustling is a crime but I did it because of what was done to me. After I made money, I stopped and went back to the village to spend my money.”
Nigerian comedian, Oluwaseyitan Lawrence, popularly known as Seyi Law, has reiterated his support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Naija News reports that Seyi Law, during an interview with Punch, said despite being constantly trolled online, he is at peace with himself and unbothered about his followers dropping to zero over support for Tinubu.
He said, “Every entertainer needs people, but some people want to determine the lives of others and one must not give them that chance. I want to live the way I please, as long as I have not caused any harm to anyone. I am at peace, knowing that I support someone (President Bola Tinubu) who I believe can make the nation better. Even if my followers drop to zero, it doesn’t bother me.”
Speaking on his new position as the Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment and Tourism to the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Seyi Law stated that he aims to drive the governor’s vision, which is to transform the entertainment and tourism sector of the state.
The comedian also insisted that he did not get the appointment due to his support for Tinubu, who belongs to the same All Progressives Congress (APC) as Aiyedatiwa.
He added, “I am only a vehicle for the governor to do that, and I am hoping to support the governor by providing ideas that are useful to the entertainment and tourism industry. We aim to bring in more private participation and leverage the proximity of the state along the coastal line to Lagos. We also want to revamp a lot of our tourist sites, and organise more events that will bring people to the state, among other initiatives.”
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has berated Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to recognise the court judgment on his reinstatement to office.
Naija News recalls that the duo have been at loggerheads over issues regarding the governorship election in the state.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Shaibu said he was asked to be Obaseki’s deputy to add political value to the party’s ticket because the Governor was not a politician.
Shaibu also stated that it took former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, three months to convince him to support Obaseki to become governor.
He said, “Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki.
“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, he did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him.”
[NaijaNews]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised a significant reduction in deductions from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Aviation Agencies from 50 per cent down to 20 per cent.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that aviation unions had threatened to commence a nationwide protests over the 50 percent deduction from the IGR of the agencies, a policy the workers said undermined operational efficiency and financial stability.
The protests were expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrated their frustration and called for the policy reversal.
However, in a statement shared by one of the aide to the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Saka Gbenga, the reduction showed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the Aviation sector.
According to Saka, the President will thoughtfully address workers’ demands by seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.
“This move aligns with the minister, Festus Keyamo’s assurance to workers’ unions and other stakeholders that President Tinubu is deeply committed to enhancing the Aviation sector. The President aims to thoughtfully address their demands, seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.”
However, earlier in the day, the minister on his verified X handle said the concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact the deductions had on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.
“We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry. The ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
“The minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all. We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.”
[Leadership]