Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said he refused to back his former Deputy, Philip Shaibu, to succeed him because the odds didn’t favour him.

Obaseki said the political permutations in the South-South state did not favour Shaibu to take over as the leader of the state.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Obaseki said he could not risk backing Shaibu to succeed him because he had to protect the Edo people.

The governor added that he had to “protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people.”

He said: “For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.

“So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people.”

Naija News reports that Shaibu and Obaseki were former allies, but fell off after the former declared his intention to become the governor of the state.

The former deputy governor was later impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly for leaking government information.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out two separate suits questioning the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as governorship candidate for the coming Edo State gubernatorial poll.

The court held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, have no locus standi to do so.

Delivering judgments in the suits on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election.

While the first suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.

The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, and its National Executive Committee, NEC, as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

The three plaintiffs, in their separate motions filed on February 19, had sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

Justice Ekwo however held that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardized by the primary election.

Specifically, the Judge said that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.

Bishop David Oyedepo, the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel International, has issued a stern warning against internet fraud, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo.”

During a Sunday service in Canaanland, Ota, Bishop Oyedepo advised the youth to steer clear of fraudulent activities and live within the bounds of the law.

Naija News reports that Bishop Oyedepo, in his message to the congregation, warned against deceit and corruption, specifically targeting those involved in internet scams.

“Nobody playing games has a future in the kingdom. Hear this and hear it forever. If that is your trade, stop it,” he declared, explicitly condemning the activities of those who engage in acquiring people’s ATM card details through deceitful means.

The Bishop emphasized the inevitable bitter end for those involved in such nefarious activities.

“You are on a very fast lane that always ends in bitterness and destruction,” he warned.

Bishop Oyedepo reminded his listeners about the spiritual laws of sowing and reaping, and the principles of seedtime and harvest.

He encouraged engagement with these laws cheerfully, willingly, and tirelessly, suggesting that lawful endeavors would eventually lead to prosperity.

“Engage with that law and watch how you begin to lay up gold with time,” he advised.

Recall that in 2022, Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries labeled internet fraudsters thieves and proclaimed that they would ‘know no peace’ as long as they continued to steal from others.

Bishop Oyedepo’s condemnation of internet fraud comes at a time when Nigeria grapples with a high rate of cybercrimes, impacting the image of the country internationally.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd, has assured Nigerians that the ongoing fuel scarcity and queues will be cleared out Wednesday, May 1.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Chief Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said the company currently has an availability of product exceeding 1.5 billion litres, which can last for at least 30 days.

“Unfortunately, we experienced a three-day disruption in distribution due to logistical issues, which has since been resolved.

“However, as you know, overcoming such disruptions typically requires double the amount of time to return to normal operations,” he said.

He said: “Some folks are taking advantage of this situation to maximize profits.

“Thankfully, product scarcity has been minimal lately, but these folks might be exploiting the situation for unwarranted gain

“The lines will be cleared out between today and tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, lPMAN, Hammed Fashola, expressed optimism that the queues in Lagos and Ogun would ease off this week, relying on the words of the NNPCL.

Fashola, however, stated that the queues in Abuja might tarry a bit due to the distance to Lagos.

“The information available to us from the NNPCL was that there was a logistics problem, and when that happens, it will disrupt the supply chain.

“That might be a delay in the movement of ships from the mother vessel to the daughter vessel before it gets to the depot tanks.

“Before we can correct that, surely it will take some days. I think by Tuesday or Wednesday, there will be more products available for lifti¹ng by marketers.

“It might take time before it can ease off in Abuja, considering the distance to Lagos and the bad roads; Lagos might be calm this new week,” Fashola assured.

The talented Nigerian international goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has made an indelible mark in the annals of history by becoming the first African and Nigerian player to be honoured as the top goalkeeper in the French D1 Arkema (women’s league).

Naija News reports that throughout this season, the 23-year-old Super Falcons goalkeeper has showcased her exceptional skills, particularly in saving penalties, solidifying her position as one of the finest goalkeepers on the global stage.

Nnadozie triumphed over fierce competition from Christiane Endler of Olympic Lyon and Katarzyna Kiedrzynek of Paris SG, emerging as the deserving recipient of this prestigious individual recognition.

“It’s very pleasing because she deserves it and she achieved an exceptional Champions League and not only on penalties.

“She is adorable. It is deserved. We know that she will be courted this summer, but we will try to keep her,” said Pierre Ferracci, the president of Nnadozie’s club, Paris FC.

Naija News reports that Nnadozie has been unrivalled in saving penalties this season, leading Europe with an impressive seven saves.

Recall that Nnadozie was also awarded CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023.

Paris FC is currently in third place in the league standings with 42 points, trailing Paris Saint-Germain by eight points and Lyon by 11 points.

After winning the French D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Year award, Nnadozie expressed her gratitude on social media platform X, stating that she was thrilled to have received this honour.

“A big thanks to everyone who voted for me, and also a special appreciation to my coaches and teammates for all the support and encouragement, to my amazing family, and to Naija fans Una too much. GOD DID,” she added.

Former African Footballer of The Year, Victor Ikpeba, believes the appointment of Finidi George as Super Eagles coach will be a blessing to home-based players.

After waiting almost two months, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Finidi George as the head coach of the Super Eagles.

Before his appointment, Finidi served as the Super Eagles’ assistant coach for 20 months and was the head coach of Enyimba of Aba.

Ikpeba, a member of the Nigerian Football Federation Technical Committee that endorsed Finidi for the Super Eagles coaching job, said the former Nigeria international, who won the NPFL with Enyimba last season, will provide opportunities for homegrown players.

“Being actively involved in Nigerian football, Finidi understands the local talent pool,” Ikpeba said on Monday Night Football aired on SuperSport.

“As the coach of NPFL champions Enyimba, he’s in touch with the domestic scene and will provide opportunities for homegrown talents, just as he once emerged as a star player himself.”

Reports claimed that Finidi George signed a one-year contract with the NFF with a one-year extension option. His first assignment is to lead the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The journey to that goal will commence on June 3 when the Super Eagles take on South Africa in their third game of the qualification series. After the game in Uyo, the Eagles will fly to Abidjan in Ivory Coast to take on Benin Republic on June 10.

Nigeria is currently third in Group C, a point behind second-placed South Africa, and two points below first-placed Rwanda. Hence, the Eagles are expected to win their games this June to increase their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“In the upcoming matches against South Africa and Benin in June, Nigeria faces crucial fixtures that could define our World Cup aspirations,” Ikpeba said.

“We find ourselves in a challenging position having drawn our initial qualifiers, so securing victories in the upcoming games is imperative. With the talents at our disposal, if Finidi can extract the best from the players, qualification is within our reach.”

Everton have already established contact with Wilfred Ndidi over a summer move.

Ndidi has less than two months on his contract with Leicester City and is not expected to sign an extension.

A number of clubs have already expressed interest in signing the defensive midfielder. 

Anticipating they could face stiff competition for the Nigeria international, Everton have decided to send their proposal to the player early.

Ndidi, according to reports, is yet to decide his destination.

The 27-year-old played a crucial role in Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League.

The Foxes won the Sky Bet Championship title after a 3-0 victory over Preston North End on Monday.

A recent report by Statisense has ranked the Nigerian Naira and the Argentine Peso among the top 15 weakest currencies against the U.S. dollar, highlighting ongoing economic challenges in both nations.

Naija News reports that this revelation follows a considerable depreciation in the value of the Naira.

The currency hit a record low in March, exchanging at over N1,900 to a dollar before significantly improving to N1,100.

However, recent trends indicate a continued decline, with the Naira currently trading for over N1,300 to the dollar. This fluctuation underscores the naira’s persistent volatility and weakening stance in the global currency market.

According to the Statisense report, the top 5 currencies listed to be performing poorly against the dollar were Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, Nigeria and South Sudan, respectively.

Malawi, Angola, Turkiye, Egypt, Zambia, Venezuela, Burundi, Belarus, Congo, and Laos are also among the 15 countries whose currencies are performing poorly against the U.S. dollar.

The report situates the Naira and the Argentine Peso within a broader context of global economic instability, where multiple countries are grappling with inflationary pressures, political instability, and challenges in the financial sector.

In Nigeria, factors such as fluctuating oil prices, foreign exchange reserve pressures, and speculative activities are exacerbating the situation, leading to a continuous depreciation of the Naira.

Similarly, Argentina has been dealing with longstanding economic difficulties, inflation, and fiscal deficits that have weakened the Peso.

Economic analysts suggest that stringent economic reforms, better fiscal management, and stabilizing measures are crucial for improving the strength of these currencies.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has attacked Daniel Bwala, branding the former Atiku Abubakar’s spokesman as a “hungry man” after he visited President Bola Tinubu to Saudi Arabia where the president had participated in World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Igbokwe described Bwala, who ahead of the 2023 presidential election defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as shameless.

Bwala had left Tinubu ahead of the election to work for Atiku’s presidential campaign organisation as a spokesperson.

“Why is this PDP man running helter-skelter? Why is he rushing PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) anywhere he goes? What is he looking for? What is he pushing for?” Igbokwe wrote, adding that Bwala has no shame for disturbing the president in Saudi Arabia after previously pursuing him to France recently.

“Let this man receive little sense and dignity by sticking to his Party PDP and allow PBAT to breathe? Haba! Kilode gan ni? Oginidi?” the APC chieftain added.

Bwala, a former supporter of Tinubu before he defected to Atiku’s camp, has been making overtures to reestablish ties with the president, including pledging allegiance to him after a meeting at the Presidential Villa in January.

Bwala stated after the meeting that he was committed to supporting Tinubu’s administration, even if it required returning to the APC, saying “President Bola Tinubu is my motivation.”

It was a reversal from Bwala’s earlier criticism of Tinubu’s appointments as “nepotism pro max” when he was Atiku’s spokesman.

Reacting to Igbokwe’s post, Segun Showunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku’s campaign, said: “Blame the handlers of President Bola Tinubu. I have spoken on this and how those who work so hard might be feeling. I hope they know the larger implications of these things.”

Explaining his decision to realign with Tinubu, Bwala had said in January, “Some of his ministers that were allegedly reported to have committed infractions, instead of protecting them, he asked that the law should take its course. And he suspended somebody without wasting time. That to me is impressive because it is about the people.

“Secondly, there has been this outcry that the government is bloated and the rest. Yesterday he introduced a policy to reduce the cost of governance and today he told me it is just the beginning. There are many more decisions of government that would reduce the cost of governance,” Bwala added.

Bwala further stated, “This is not about political parties and you need to know that I was with him (before the presidential election) before I left and I was doggedly committed to him. I told him today, I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody.”

When asked if he’s back in the ruling APC, Bwala said, “APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.”

‘NEPOTISM PRO MAX’

In his previous criticism, Bwala had accused Tinubu of nepotism when the president nominated additional persons to serve as ministers in his cabinet.

“President Bola Tinubu’s appointment is nepotistic and now has earned the status of nepotism pro max 15,” he had said in September on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics.

“We earn the right to point out things that the President and his administration are doing which are not uniting Nigeria, which are not pushing us towards the path of progress”.

“I earn the right to speak truth to power because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is somebody that I, Bwala Daniel, respect with the greatest respect,” Bwala added. “I supported him when I was in the APC in the primaries, and more than just that, I, along with the PDP, sent my congratulations to him after he was sworn in which brought a lot of backlash to me.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has ordered four fintech companies to stop onboarding of new customers pending further notice.

The affected fintechs- OPay, Palmpay, Kuda Bank, and Moniepoint have been reportedly linked to allegations of accounts being used for illicit foreign exchange transactions.

Representatives from two affected firms confirmed the development to DAILY POST on Monday.

“I can that confirm that 90 per cent of the accounts implicated in the illicit forex transactions are with commercial banks, and only 10 per cent are with fintechs.

“Why then has the CBN not extended this directive to the commercial banks? We face a widespread issue here, and targeting fintechs seems like an unfair focus on the more vulnerable targets,” one source who preferred anonymity explained.

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing the report, none of the four firms have responded to the development.

The development comes amid clamped down on currency speculators in the foreign exchange market.

Recently, the Court granted the Economic Financial Crimes Commission’s request to freeze 1,146 bank accounts.