Details have emerged why the senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sunday Sun learnt that the defection is all about 2027 politics and threats to his return ticket to the Senate.

The senator who represents Delta North in the National Assembly, has, however, not made an official announcement of his defection at the time of filing this report.

Nwoko, a vocal critic of the current governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has been making  moves to leave the party for a while now following his frosty relationship with PDP leaders in the state.

Sunday Sun also gathered that another reason for leaving the party was because the immediate past governor of his state, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, is plotting to return to the Red Chamber in 2027 under the same PDP platform.

When contacted for a response, the lawmaker neither conformed not denied it, but said his leaving the PDP is “not now.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the September 21st Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, yesterday, tendered more documentary evidence to support their petition in continuation of their case at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

All the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits by the Tribunal in spite of objections from Counsel to the respondents (INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo and All Progressives Congress).

Additional documents tendered yesterday from the Bar by Counsel to the petitioners, Ken. Mozia, SAN, were 55 Certified True Copies (CTC) of polling Units Voters register used in the election, CTC of 56 accreditation figures of extracts from INEC’s Bimodal Voters Accreditation Systems Machines (BVAS), 72 Certified True Copies of extracts of accreditation figures from the BVAS device.

Others were Certified True Copies of INEC’s Results Viewing (IREV) Containing Form EC8A and 70 CTCs’ of INEC’s Polling Units Booklets, containing Form EC25B, 66 copies of polling Units Voters Register and 125 copies of Form EC8A from IREV (all Certified True Copies), 125 copies of Form EC8A from IREV, directly certified by INEC, 101 copies of Form EC8A, CTC of Edo State BIVAS of Polling Unit by Polling Unit’s (PUs) Report as well as certificate of compliance by INEC.

Besides, the petitioners’ Counsel also tendered in court CTC of Certificate of compliance with BIVAS machines’ Report in respect of the 133 Polling Units earlier tendered as exhibit in the petition.

Counsel to the respondents, Abdullahi Aliyu SAN, Offiong Offiong, SAN, and Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, after raising objections to the admissibility of the documents, reserved their reasons for their objections to the petitioners’ documents to address stage.

At the hearing yesterday, Counsel to INEC, Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN did not object to admission of certificate of compliance with BIVAS machines used in 133 polling unites, but Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Offiong and Orbih, objected and reserved their reasons.

The PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo are challenging INEC’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed how his absolute faith in God earned him the sobriquet ‘Miracle Governor.’

Speaking at the weekend, during the, KOLGA (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) Annual Thanksgiving Day held in Sampou, his community, the Bayelsa State governor disclosed how in 2020, he turned down a ritual offer from a senior citizen in the bid to become governor.

He had challenged the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 2019 governorship poll as winner and the matter was then pending at the Supreme Court.

Diri told the crowd at the gathering that the senior citizen flew in some marabouts from Senegal to perform the rituals.

According to him when he bluntly rejected the offer, the man demanded a refund of the money spent to transport them into the country and he had to pay him the sum of $10,000.

He explained that his unshaken faith in God made him decline the advice to look elsewhere for help, saying God, against all the odds, proved that He is always faithful.

The Bayelsa helmsman averred that the KOLGA people have reasons to be thankful to God given the level of development they have witnessed, and thanked the council for giving Thanksgiving Day legal backing through legislation.

Governor Diri also expressed gratitude to Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, the convener, and those who have sustained the programme.

His words: “Let me reveal to you why it is important to thank God and have faith in Him. Sometime ago, a senior citizen of this country invited me to Abuja and asked me to perform certain sacrifices but I declined. I told him my faith in God would not allow me to do it. He got angry and told me I would never become governor.

“He told me that he had spent $10,000 to bring the people for the sacrifice and asked for a refund, which I obliged.

“When the Supreme Court’s pronouncement came, the man was shocked and could not call me. Sadly, he passed on after some time.

“The story I have narrated was witnessed by my deputy and a friend in Abuja as both of them accompanied me to visit the senior citizen.

“Kolokuma/Opokuma people have every reason to thank God. As a state, we do not want anybody to be harmed in the name of politics because we do not know the person God has destined for greatness. So, I call on all of us in the political game to be very civil and recognise that there is God who rules in the affairs of men.”

In his welcome address, the chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Tariye Lelei, said people of the area have reason to thank God for the gift of the governor.

In his sermon, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey said the younger generation might not understand the reason for the thanksgiving as they did not experience the difficulty older ones in the local government faced and said if they do not thank God for what He had done for them, they could be regarded as ingrates.

The chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Saturday, visited the scene of the petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, describing the incident as devastating and sad.

In a statement on the incident, the NGF chairman expressed shock at the quantum of the casualties and the magnitude of the burns suffered by the survivors.

AbdulRazaq’s statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, added: “The Forum is saddened by the petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, in which dozens of people have been killed or injured,” according to a statement of the Forum.

“The Forum extends its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, Governor Umar Bago, the families who have lost loved ones, and our other compatriots who got injured in the explosion.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones in the incident, and we wish those injured quick healing.

“Again, we call on our compatriots to act with extreme caution and absolute respect for life at all times, and especially in time of grave danger such as during petrol spill.

“The Forum prays for the repose of the souls of the dead victims.”

The Ogun State government is to recruit 1,000 personnel into the state security network otherwise called Amotekun to the existing 1,000 corps.

“Governor @DapoAbiodunCON has approved the recruitment of 1,000 additional Amotekun Corps personnel, increasing the total to over 2,000, to enhance security across Ogun State,” the state government said in a statement.

Mr Abiodun disclosed this at the passing-out parade of 690 Batch D trainees, which took place at the Ogun State Stadium in Sagamu, on Saturday.

Mr Abiodun, at the ceremony, also “pledged to provide more patrol vehicles, electric motorcycles, communication gadgets, and other resources to support their operations.”

Stressing the corps’ role in grass-roots security and reduction of unemployment, the governor commended the trainees for their discipline and urged them to focus on intelligence gathering and community policing.

Commandant of the corps, Alade Adedigba, who highlighted the trainees’ preparedness, appreciated the government for its support.

 The ceremony also featured awards and cultural activities.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, says she does not want the consequences of “terrible governments” like Nigeria to play out in Britain.

Badenoch spoke on Thursday while delivering her first speech of the year at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues.

Speaking on the importance of building trust and touting the Conservative Party as the right group to fix Britain, the politician likened a possibility of the UK becoming like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.

“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.

“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.

“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.

“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.

“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”

Badenoch’s comments are a resumed criticism of Nigeria, her country of origin — an approach that has provoked disapproval from Nigerian leaders, including a rebuke from Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima accused Badenoch of “constantly denigrating” her homeland.

Before she was elected leader of the Tories, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.

In a separate interview, she accused the Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother’s shoes.

She has also hinted at walking miles to get water while she lived in Nigeria despite having wealthy parents.

Amid the backlash from Nigerians, a spokesperson for the politician said Badenoch is not interested in laundering Nigeria’s image.

The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Engr. Abdulganiyu O. Jaji, has urged fuel station owners and tanker operators to take immediate action in addressing reckless driving by their drivers, especially on major roads and dangerous bends, following the tragic fuel tanker explosion in Niger State that claimed over 60 lives and left many others severely injured on Saturday.

In an interview with our correspondent, Jaji emphasised the need for an urgent review of safety protocols governing fuel transportation across the nation.

He expressed concern over the rising frequency of tanker explosions and fuel station fire incidents, warning that even a small static spark or gas leak can result in rapid, deadly explosions.

Highlighting the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, Jaji described it as a highly fatal risk. “Fuel vapours and leaks can ignite at any moment,” he cautioned.

“Your life is worth more than a few liters of fuel,” he added, stressing that approaching a fuel spill is not only dangerous but could be fatal, urging the public to avoid accident sites and instead contact the Federal Fire Service for prompt intervention.

The Fire Service boss also called on Nigerians, particularly operators of fuel stations, gas refilling plants, and users of gas cylinders, to strictly follow safety measures to prevent further catastrophic events.

Engr. Jaji extended his condolences to the families affected by the recent tragedy and commended the first responders for their dedication, which he described as a testament to the nation’s resilience.

He expressed his heartfelt prayers for those grieving, asking for divine strength to help them cope with their loss.

As the nation mourns, Jaji stressed the importance of prioritising safety and public awareness to prevent similar incidents in the future. “Every life is precious, and we must do everything in our power to protect our citizens,” he urged.

Furthermore, Jaji reiterated the Federal Fire Service’s commitment to enhancing safety awareness and called for the swift amendment of the Fire Service Act of 1963, which is currently under review in the National Assembly. He argued that the outdated law was inadequate to address current fire safety challenges and needed to be modernised to better regulate fire safety measures and reduce incidents in the future.

The 16th Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

Sanusi II, who spoke earlier in the week during an event held in Lagos to honour the late human rights activist and legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, expressed disappointment over what he described as the sensationalisation and misrepresentation of his words.

The monarch’s initial remarks sparked nationwide reactions after he stated that he had chosen “not to help the government” by explaining benefits of the administration’s reforms. “I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explained, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government,” he was quoted as saying.

His statement also included sharp criticism of the government’s communication strategies. “They don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they’re doing. But I’m not going to help,” he added.

The comments drew public backlash, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, accusing Sanusi II of prioritising personal interests over national duty. “We find it amusing that a leader, more so one from an institution that ennobles forthrightness, fairness, and justice, would publicly admit to shuffling off telling the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism,” Mohammed said in a statement on Thursday.

But, Sanusi II has clarified that his remarks were taken out of context, reducing the broader message of his speech to a single paragraph. He insisted that his speech supported the government’s reforms while acknowledging the sacrifices Nigerians were enduring due to years of economic mismanagement.

“They took one paragraph out of context and sensationalized it,” Sanusi II said. “Nothing about the nuanced support given to the government. That there are arguments supporting the reforms. That we are paying a price for decades of mismanagement before Tinubu. That there is light at the end of the tunnel. That we should all pray and support the system and talk about the good things happening.”

He also emphasised that his speech served as a counter-narrative to critiques of the government during the event. He stated that his remarks were ideologically charged but misunderstood, adding that his reference to “friends” in government was a coded message meant for specific individuals.

“There is just no point dragging the matter. Hopefully, at some point, those in government will recognize I was speaking for them in an ideologically charged environment,” he said.

Despite the backlash, Sanusi II urged Nigerians to move forward, noting that, “This too shall come to pass.”

President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Lagos for the yuletide has stalled the handing over of the N704.91 million generated from the 50% salary cuts of members of the House of Representatives.

A top official of the National Assembly bureaucracy disclose this to LEADERSHIP Sunday on condition of anonymity.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen had at plenary on December 19, 2024 said the House would on December 31 last year present N704.91 million to Tinubu for assistance of vulnerable Nigerians who were worst hit by the removal of petrol subsidy.

The House had on July 18, 2024 adopted an amendment to a motion of urgent public importance proposed by the deputy speaker,  Hon.  Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) that lawmakers should contribute 50% of their monthly salaries of N600,000 to assist Nigerians during the challenging times.

Speaking with our correspondent, the National Assembly bureaucrat said; “It is true that the money was put together for onward delivery to the president so that the executive can use it in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

“But we all know that President Tinubu traveled to Lagos for the yuletide from December 18 where he stayed for three weeks before he returned to Abuja. Since then, the National Assembly which the House is part of is engrossed in budget defence.”

The House spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi and his deputy, Hon. Agbese, were yet to respond to LEADERSHIP’s enquiries on the matter at the time of filing this report.

Another tragedy from the recurring fuel tanker explosions struck yesterday at Dikko Junction, Niger State.

Scores of residents, who rushed to the scene to scoop the content were killed while several others were injured and rushed to the hospital by rescue workers for treatment.

Officials of the rescue team, who included personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said 60 bodies of the victims were recovered.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the explosion occurred at about 10am yesterday at Dikko Junction in Gurara local government area of the state.

The vehicle laden with 60,000 litres of petrol caught fire near a fuel station when the body detached from the head and spilled fuel on the surroundings.

Eyewitnesses said the tanker was coming from the Kaduna axis of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway when the explosion occurred.

 

One of the eyewitnesses said the fuel truck with registration number KBG 103 XA belonged to HMY Oil and Gas and was driven by one Mohammed Modu from Jere in Kaduna State.

Also, a shop owner at Dikko Junction, Mohammed Aliyu, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that “the fatality rate was high because some of the residents disregarded the danger warning and were scooping the product when the body of the tanker detached and the product started spilling.

“While some succeeded in scooping the product and escaped, several others were not lucky as the inferno intensified and the tanker as well as another parked near the filling station exploded simultaneously,” he said.

The sector commander of the FRSC, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed to LEADERSHIP Sunday that 60 bodies were recovered from the spot.

He said the tanker with 60,000 litres of PMS was to be delivered in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja when the disaster occurred

Tsukwam said the tank detached from the body of the vehicle and the product spilled leading to an explosion and intense fire that burnt the victims beyond recognition.

He said, “The body detached from its head leading to a fall of the tanker which resulted in the spilling of the fuel on the ground. A large crowd of people gathered to scoop the product despite efforts to stop them.

“Suddenly, the tanker burst into flames, engulfing another tanker. So far, 60 corpses have been recovered from the scene and the victims are mostly scavengers. The fire has been put out and gradually the road is opened to the motoring public.”

Also, the director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the spilled PMS got in contact with a generating set that was on, thereby triggering the explosion.

He said, “At present, NSEMA in collaboration with NEMA, Suleja LGA Emergency Committee and good-hearted volunteers are carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations to rescue the injured who have been moved to the hospital for treatment and to recover the corpses of the deceased.”

Meanwhile, Governor Umaru Bago has expressed shock over the incident.

In a statement issued yesterday by his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor described the explosion as “worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate.”

He sympathised with the families of the victims and prayed that God would repose the souls of the departed and heal the injured.

The governor, however, cautioned the people to always be responsible and give priority to their safety.

He directed all the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to do the needful and the security agencies to ensure security in the area.