Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun has urged Nigerians to have faith despite the economic challenges they are facing, stressing that the country is “still at the baby steps of democracy”.

Abiodun, while emphasising the need to be steadfast and trust the democratic process, urged Nigerians to continue to support the government and its policies.

The governor gave the charge on Wednesday during the Democracy Day Celebration prayers held at the family home of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola in Gbagura, Abeokuta.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun expressed immense pleasure that Nigerians are celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy which was laid by the late Abiola and appreciated the Federal Government for setting aside the day not just to honour his memory but also to celebrate democratic rule in Nigeria.

“We give glory to Almighty Allah that we are all here today and that democracy has continued to thrive. There are challenges, we are still at the baby steps of democracy but our call is that everybody works together to support ourselves, support our institution so we can succeed at this governance we are practicing now. We know that ultimately this is what will give us the best leadership,development and everything that we want.

“I also use this opportunity to commend the efforts of our leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all that he is doing for us in Nigeria and seek the prayer and support from all of us for guidance and success. We should continue to pray for our leaders so that Allah will guide them and they will to lead us aright.”

Abiodun added that his administration would continue to honour the legacy of the Late Abiola particularly as he was a prominent son of the state.

He also pledged that his government would not relent in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ogun State.

“We would continue to uphold and support this family as we continue to uphold the dividend of democracy across the state.”

Earlier In his sermon, Mufasir Agura, Alhaji Daud Toriola, described Abiola as “food and drugs” due to the role both played in the body system, saying though he is gone, the lives he touched while alive still speaks of his impact.

Mr Ameen Abiola, speaking on behalf of the Abiola family, thanked everyone for coming annually to remember the late MKO Abiola, particularly the state government for its unwavering support and the recent renovation of the family home.

He thanked the Federal Government for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring the late Abiola, saying the gesture goes a long way towards protecting the legacies he left behind.

The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, says the country’s electoral processes have been monetized.

The party spoke in a statement signed by its acting national publicity secretary, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, to commemorate the Democracy Day.

The statement said, “The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) joins Nigerians across the country to commemorate the occasion of our 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule. As we mark this milestone, we cannot help but reflect on the journey thus far and the state of our democracy.

“While we congratulate Nigerians on this achievement, we must also acknowledge that our democracy has not been as robust as we had hoped.

“Despite the return to civilian rule, we have not witnessed significant advancements in social democracy, and instead, we have seen a regression of civic rights and a deterioration of material wellbeing. It is a stark reminder that our democracy is still a work in progress.

“Furthermore, the last general elections serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we face in deepening our democracy. The monetization of the electoral process, lack of transparency, and disenfranchisement of voters have eroded the very foundation of our democracy. It is imperative that we take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that power truly resides in the people.

“We call on civil society organizations, professional associations, and community groups to rise up to the challenge. It is time for us to organize and mobilize the populace to demand better from our leaders and institutions. We must work together to reclaim our democracy and ensure that it serves the interests of all Nigerians.

“The PRP believes that a true democracy is one that is participatory, inclusive, and accountable. We urge all Nigerians to join hands in promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance. It is only by working together that we can build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.”

There is an outbreak of severe gastroenteritis in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Kosofe local government areas of Lagos State, leading to the death of five persons while 60 others have been hospitalized

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this while reacting to the state surveillance reports.

Abayomi was quoted as saying the state government has issued a call for heightened vigilance and the adoption of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of a potential cholera outbreak in the state.

The Commissioner further revealed that sadly five deaths have been recorded mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

“We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis. We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation. As of April 28, 2024, Nigeria reported 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states,” he said.

The Commissioner noted that following recent rains, Lagos State has seen a notable increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools, adding that urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation are particularly at risk.

One of the abducted individuals, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, revealed that the kidnappers demanded approximately N40 million in ransom before releasing them, along with 29 others.

PUNCH Metro reports on Monday that about 30 travellers, including some students of the polytechnic were abducted by kidnappers along the Abuja-Nasarawa Highway on Friday.

Punch correspondent had, on Sunday, gathered from a source who pleaded anonymity due to the nature of the incident that the kidnappers laid siege to the vehicles conveying the travellers and abducted them into a nearby bush in the Uke area of Nasarawa State.

The source stated further that a student among the abductees was travelling to her family in Abuja.

The victim who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Metro, on Tuesday, on the condition of anonymity for fear of attack by the kidnappers, stated that the seven-man kidnappers ambushed their vehicles, shot at the tyres and dispossessed them of their belongings before abducting them into a nearby bush.

The victim narrated further that after the kidnappers had led them into the thick bush, they (the victims) were made to take a rest when they realised that some of the victims were tired.

She disclosed further that at about midnight on Saturday, the kidnappers instructed them to call their relatives to demand N10m ransom each.

The victim narrated further that after several pleadings from the victims, the kidnappers grouped them into two categories of students and non-students and demanded that the students should collectively pay N10m while others should pay N10m each.

The victim added, “We, who are students, started calling our relatives and money was rallied around to make the payment. There is an Alhaji among the other group who raised about N20m and other people raised about N10m. The total money they got was about N40m.

“During the whole incident, we did not see any police officer come around till we were released. It was after they said they had got the money that they allowed us to go. We have gone to the police station but were told to write a statement.”

Meanwhile, a relative had earlier on Tuesday told our correspondent that the victim had reached out to the family informing them that the kidnappers had released them.

“She reached out to us this morning that they had been released. I am on my way to the police station because the number she called us with has not been reachable after the call. I will give you an update later.”

In a follow-up conversation, the relative disclosed that the victim had been reunited with the family.

“She has arrived home. We are grateful that she is safe. She is resting.”

Efforts made by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Rahman Nansel, proved abortive as messages sent to him were not responded to while calls made to his telephone line were unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

The Tinubu-led Federal Government has opened up on why it decided to obtain a $2.5 Billion loan from the World Bank to fund the 2024 budget.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has mentioned that the upcoming 2024 budget will be partially funded by the ₦50 billion Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by the National Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority (NSWIA). 

Nonetheless, the minister highlighted that the ₦50 billion would not suffice to support the “Renewed Hope Transformational Projects”, leading the federal government to request a $2.5bn loan from the World Bank.

Bagudu disclosed this during a briefing with the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs regarding the proposed Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

The Minister further mentioned that the World Bank’s management would soon convene to make a decision on the loan’s approval.

Bagudu explained that the entire supplementary budget, still in the process of being formulated, would be directed towards four specific transformational projects.

These projects consist of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Road, the completion of ongoing railway projects lacking counterpart funding from the federal government, and the rehabilitation and expansion of dams and irrigation schemes to enhance agricultural production.

Additionally, Bagudu mentioned that the budget plan would provide increased financial support for projects related to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to boost the country’s energy market position.

The head of the Senate’s Budget Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, observed that making changes to the budget for 2024 could be a more effective approach than creating a new spending bill, considering the significant expenses involved in its preparation.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sympathised with President Bola Tinubu after the President slipped at the Eagles Square during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration.

Recall on Wednesday, Tinubu slipped at the Eagles Square while boarding the parade vehicle.

The President, however, quickly regained his balance and continued with the proceedings without further issues. 

Reacting, Atiku expressed his empathy over the incident, hoping that all is well with the President.

He wrote on X, “I sincerely sympathise with President Bola Tinubu, @officialABAT, over this unfortunate incident as he was set to review the parade on Democracy Day. I do hope that all is well with him. -AA.”

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent June 12 Democracy Day speech

The rights activist described the President’s speech as a mere historical narrative devoid of addressing present challenges.

Adegboruwa, while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, expressed his disappointment, noting that the speech did not address the critical issues plaguing Nigeria’s democracy.

He argued that despite the commemoration of June 12 and its significance as the day of the annulled 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola, the government’s commitment to democratic values has not translated into tangible progress.

The Senior Advocate emphasized that greater expectations are placed on someone like Tinubu, who played a pivotal role in the democratic struggle and now holds a position of leadership.

Adegboruwa said, “I listened to the speech of the president, unfortunately, I am unable to agree that anything has changed.

“I am sorry, I am not impressed in anyway at all by the speech of the President, in the sense that it is just rehearsing history.

“For me, looking at the past one year and indeed, our collective history from the time we started agitating for democracy, things have gotten worse, nothing has changed at all.”

The Human rights lawyer highlighted the significance of the June 12 struggle, emphasizing the need for recognition of the annulled 1993 election and true federalism in Nigeria.

He expressed disappointment that the dream of better elections and democratic principles remains deferred, citing unanswered questions in recent polls.

Adegboruwa called for the release of wrongfully detained Nigerians and engagement with constituent units to ensure true federation.

He criticized the president’s speech for lacking a roadmap to achieve true democracy, reflecting a broader sentiment among citizens and activists for substantial changes beyond ceremonial gestures.

A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has demanded a review of the budget of Senate and House of Representatives as a strategy to reduce cost of governance.

Obanikoro lamented that democracy has become expensive.

He stated this while speaking with newsmen in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

He urged the government to make the budget of the National Assembly more transparent.

“It is expensive because we have made it so. Let me give you a good example because we borrowed this system from America.

“In America they don’t provide accommodation for lawmakers, they fend for themselves when it comes to that, they live basically on salary and very small fringe benefits.

“Democracy doesn’t have to be this expensive, that is one thing we don’t get right,” Obanikoro said.

Speaking further, he argued that if the budget of the two legislative houses would be made transparent, the recent calls for a parliamentary system of government would have been avoided.

“When the budget is more transparent, and people can go online and see what is allocated to every member of the National Assembly and can also input into the process, I do believe that will make the process or the institution less expensive.

”This clamour that the bicameral system of legislature should be jettisoned will reduce if the budget is reduced, because the idea is that there are some budgetary provisions that should never be in our books and we must be bold enough to expunge them.

“We cut the budget size of the National Assembly to a reasonable level that an average Nigerian can live with,” Obanikoro, added

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has debunked reports of contesting the 2027 presidential election alongside the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir-El-Rufai.

Naija News learnt that Akpabio’s posters have flooded some parts of Abuja, suggesting that he and El-Rufai would run for the presidency in 2027.

However, Akpabio, in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the posters flying around as the handiwork of mischief makers.

Akpabio stated that he has no interest in contesting for the presidency but is currently preoccupied with collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Tinubu to reset Nigeria.

The Senate President urged security agencies to launch serious investigations into the matter to unravel the promoters of the “ugly enterprise.”

The statement reads, “The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to posters circulating in some parts of Kaduna associating the President of the Senate with a supposed El-Rufai 2027 political ambition.

“This is the handiwork of mischief makers and familiar fifth columnists and those bent on opening up windows for tar brushing of the President’s loyalists. The action is spurious and mischievous.

“Senator Akpabio is presently preoccupied with the responsibility of collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Bola Tinubu to reset Nigeria and make the nation regain its pride of place in the comity of nations.

“This is exactly what Senate President Akpabio, as the Chairman of the National Assembly has been doing since June 13, 2023; and has NEVER at any time contemplated running for President in 2027 or at any other time.

“It is therefore, embarrassing for anyone to link the person of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to an insipid presidential ambition, when a competent, trusted and tested leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is in the driving seat, effectively navigating the contours of purposeful leadership and adept governance with his renewed Hope Agenda.

“We implore members of the public to disregard this unbridled mischief intended to distract Nigerians from the purposeful and positive interventions the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is demonstrating.”