AFOLABI

AFOLABI

The behind-the-scenes intrigues

 

 

External forces have, it was learnt, exerted pressure on Tinubu behind the scenes beyond the major gladiators in the crisis.

Among them, according to a source, is former President Goodluck Jonathan, who allegedly engaged in a long telephone conversation with the president on the need to reinstate the suspended governor on or before June 12 in the spirit of Democracy Day.

“That is besides the concern expressed by two other former presidents,” the source revealed. 

According to him, the two visits by Fubara came as a result of secret instructions by these forces, and “by the president’s body language, the governor may be returned sooner than the six months earlier announced by the president.”

The president will, according to tradition, address the nation in a broadcast on June 12.

Tinubu had, on March 18, suspended Fubara from office for six months, but many people described the action as unconstitutional as, according to them, there is no part of the Constitution which empowers the president to suspend/remove an elected governor in the event that emergency rule imposition becomes inevitable in any part of the country.

The critics cite Section 305, which provides for emergency rule without the suspension/removal of an elected governor.

They also refer to Section 188, which vests the removal of elected officials solely on the state House of Assembly.
Nevertheless, Tinubu slammed six months suspension on Fubara while also applying the same punishment on his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly, most of whom were loyal to Fubara’s predecessor, Nyesom Wike, incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and who (lawmakers) had commenced the impeachment process against Fubara.

The suspension was the climax of the fight between Fubara and Wike over the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State and appointments into key positions in government.

It had been speculated that Tinubu could lift the suspension on May 29 when the nation celebrated the second anniversary of his administration, but, as that did not happen, many people are banking on June 12 reinstatement.

 

Four days from today, June 12 precisely, Nigeria will celebrate another Democracy Day, marking 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance since 1999.

Every June 12, since the 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, Nigerians reminisce on the president who was never sworn-in, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others, who also sacrificed their lives for the democracy the nation enjoys today.

President Bola Tinubu, also a participant in the struggle, is today a beneficiary of social equality that Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, and Chief Adekunle Ajasin, who have departed this life, fought for. Among others were Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, and Chima Ubani, who have also transmuted to the upper realm.

In his national broadcast on June 12 last year, when Nigeria celebrated its 25th anniversary of unbroken democracy, Tinubu noted, “No matter how democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run.”

He added, “We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given.

 

“As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.”

It is on his above vow that he is morally and constitutionally bound to preserve democracy that Nigerians, among many other things, wait for his newfangled position on the infringement of democratic governance in Rivers State since March 18.

Parenthetically, he, as a democratically elected president, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months on March 18, suspending the duly elected governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and replacing him with a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas (retd.).

By the act, later stamped by the National Assembly, Rivers State has been governed by an unelected “governor” contrary to the laws.

By September 18, it will be six months since Ibas took over Rivers State by fiat of Tinubu. 

As the president leads the country to mark another June 12 anniversary on Thursday, it will be three months next Wednesday, June 18, that Ibas took over as sole administrator of Rivers State, with Fubara, the elected governor, outside the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Will Tinubu end the state of emergency he imposed on Rivers State six days before its complete three months on June 18?

Or will the travesty that he and others fought against continue under his watch?

Only the president knows his unpretentious plan for Rivers State. While there are indications that Fubara is likely to return to his position, it is difficult to predict when this will happen.

New realization

Unlike the days before his suspension, he is now playing the same game with Tinubu. 

He has come to understand why his colleague in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and why his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Governor Umo Eno, has also abandoned the PDP for the APC.

Unmistakably, the politics of Rivers State in recent times has transformed into a pragmatic chessboard game, giving vent to various conjectures by keen observers.

Before May 29, the second anniversary of the present elected government officials, many had thought Fubara would be reinstated to his position as governor.

But with May 29 gone, optimists say Tinubu may reinstate the governor on Democracy Day, June 12, ahead of June 18, when it will be a full three months of emergency rule in the state.

London consultation

As a man desperate for a lasting peace and true reconciliation in the face of daunting fiery darts unleashed on him by political opponents, Fubara shocked everyone when he made a trip to the United Kingdom via Germany to meet with Tinubu, who was in London in April. 

The private meeting, which lasted more than three hours, centered on restoring peace in Rivers State, the possible return of Fubara, and the entire gamut of the suspended democratic institutions.

Sources confided that the London parley offered the president a first-hand opportunity to observe the chemistry of the suspended governor at close range.

Follow-up session in Lagos

Nigerians were again awed when Fubara met with Tinubu in Lagos State last Tuesday.
The picture of Tinubu and Fubara that hit the media space showed men posed in a manner signifying that something positive may be in the offing.

The Lagos meeting gave credence to Fubara’s earnest appeal-cum-warning to his supporters six days before the Lagos meeting with Tinubu to “thank Mr. President for his timely intervention to salvage the situation…”

The embattled governor also warned his loyalists not to cast aspersions on the president and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as doing so could jeopardize the ongoing peace process.
One major reason Fubara embarked on the peace voyage to Bourdillion was, it was learnt, to reassure Tinubu of his commitment to work with him. 

There were speculations that Fubara may want to take his pound of flesh from Wike by aligning with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential race.

More so, with the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, being touted to lead the pack of the new coalition opposition parties, the fear of losing Fubara was feverish, as Amaechi and Fubara are purportedly secret allies.

To show his level of commitment, Fubara had ordered an immediate end to all forms of protests in Rivers.
He encouraged everyone who sympathised with him to follow his example of leadership by remaining calm during the crisis.

Wike in limbo?

Wike, according to several sources, was not aware of Tinubu and Fubara’s meeting at his private home on Bourdillion Street, Ikoyi, Lagos State. “The governor requested the unexpected visit,” one of the sources told Sunday Vanguard.

Wiked has revealed in a recent media chat that he hadn’t seen the suspended governor since Fubara visited him at his home in Abuja with two prominent South-West politicians. 

He had always been adamant that the only way he ever wanted to vent his resentment of his political godson was to have Fubara removed from office. The minister expressed his displeasure with the state of emergency declaration, claiming it gave the struggling governor a haven.

However, the minister has consistently maintained that the governor must act sincerely if he genuinely wishes to bring about peace in Rivers State.

“How can I fight my son?” he asked, reaffirming that Fubara is his son. He claimed to be furious because Fubara volunteered to fight him as a willing tool for political rivals (Wike).

The alleged political adversaries include a former governor, Celestine Omehia; former lawmakers Austin Opara and Lee Maeba; former Transportation Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; and former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

Recall requirements

A reliable source suggested that Tinubu is facing a two-pronged strategy to solidify his power in Rivers, illustrating how the adage “there is no peace without a price” is being applied to politics in the state. 

First, if Fubara is a sitting governor, the president can work with him to win a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The president will have a falling out with his super FCT Minister if this is done.

In a media chat last Monday, Wike had declared that he would personally spearhead Tinubu’s 2027 campaign in Rivers.
In the eyes of many Nigerians, the hypothesis is preemptive.

The source claimed that Fubara switching from the PDP to the APC is the second possibility.

In either case, every rational observer is left vulnerable to Frederic Forsyth’s timeless work, “The Devil’s Alternative.” 

As a political move, the president has personally presented the state’s N1.4 trillion budget to the National Assembly, protecting the governor from potential impeachment by Wike’s hated lawmakers in the House of Assembly should they be recalled.

As a result, one of the primary causes of the crisis has been deliberately removed.

Stakeholders hopeful

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella group of the Ijaw nation, told Sunday Vanguard, “All the hypotheses have now been tested, and they are in favor of Fubara.”

Okaba believes that Tinubu has no reason to delay the reinstatement of Fubara as governor.

“Mr. President is a democrat. He was a governor. He, now, knows that the Rivers people love their governor. He also knows that terrible lies were told about the governor to make people despise him and get him out of office through impeachment”, he said.

 

“The president knows that the suspension is an aberration. He should waste no further time in reversing that decision and returning the governor to power. Posterity is a good judge, and the president will want history to be soft on him.”

Okaba stated categorically that there was nothing wrong with Fubara joining the APC, the president’s party, in a television program, recently.

He is one of the Ijaw leaders who have stood unfalteringly with Fubara in his travails to date.
For him to suggest that the governor could abandon the platform that brought him to power, the PDP, speaks of the subterranean intrigues at play.

“There is nothing wrong with that,” he said while responding to Fubara’s latest meeting with Tinubu in Lagos.

His words, “At this point, we must be realistic, and we must have an understanding of Nigerian politics. We operate a ‘malutocracy.’ We don’t have political parties anymore, but platforms for political associations.

 

“What we have are just platforms put together for people to transmit or oscillate from one place to another.

“We have state governors and former vice presidential candidates of parties just moving on, to the extent that one of the governors said, ‘If you don’t move with me, I will sack you.’

Opunabo Inkor-Tariah, a former special adviser on media to then-governor Wike, was also hopeful that Fubara’s two private visits to the president were starting to pay off.

“The governor is a reserved individual. He doesn’t talk as much as some politicians do. He has urged his followers to express gratitude to the president and refrain from disparaging the minister”, he said.

“In just two years, Fubara has completed fifty-two projects. No one has ever given him a loan. Before his suspension, he left billions of naira in the coffers. That demonstrates a wise man who is prepared to lift his people out of poverty. 

“Tinubu, the president, does not reside in space. He is now aware of the sincerity and truth of a calm man.

“I don’t see anything wrong with bringing the governor back, whether the president reinstates him on June 12 or not. Everything is up in the air; let the president make a decision now since he has learned that the state’s enemies made up these lies to hang the governor”. 

Former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, has pledged his full support for the Renewed Hope Partners, assuring of his commitment to the reelection campaign of President Bola  Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ogah, who spoke in Umuahia on Saturday, told President Tinubu not to stress himself for re-election as victory would be delivered to him by the Renewed Hope Partners.

The former Minister stated this during his visit to the Abia  State Secretariat of the Renewed Hope Partners in Umuahia after meeting with the  Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. 

“When we are united, everyone has a part to play. I can confidently tell you, the President can go to sleep,” Ogah stated.

Responding, Kalu expressed appreciation to Ogah’s visit and his decision to align fully with the Renewed Hope agenda.

He assured that President Tinubu will not take any support given to him for granted.

Former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has said the Biafra civil war was never his choice.

Gowon was presiding over the affairs of Nigeria during the civil war from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970.

He described the civil war as the most difficult period of his life. 

The former ruler spoke after he was honoured with a Life Time Integrity and Achievement Award at the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, Abuja Anglican Diocese on Saturday in Abuja.

He also disclosed that his decision to prosecute the Biafra civil war was never born out of hatred.

Gowon explained that he prosecuted the civil war due to the urgency to preserve national unity.

The former ruler called for forgiveness, reconciliation and unity across faiths and ethnicities.

He said: “I always remember the civil war. It was the most difficult period of my life.

“It was not my choice, but I had to be there, and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together.

“It was never a hatred against any people, I can assure you.”

Reflecting on life after that period, the former Head of State stressed that his decisions had often been guided by prayers and a desire to act with integrity and compassion.

“As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers.

“I ask God to help me to do the right thing the way He thinks it should be done, with love and respect for all the people.

“That is why at the end, what do we have to say? As they say: no victor, no vanquished,” he added.

Al Hilal have booked the travel and medicals for Victor Osimhen after agreeing a €75million deal with Napoli.

The Saudi Pro League club are, however, waiting on Osimhen’s green light to proceed with the transfer.

This was confirmed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, via his X account on Saturday night. 

“Al Hilal have booked travel and medical for Victor Osimhen, still waiting for his green light to the move.

“€75m deal in place with Napoli after new proposal revealed yesterday, depending on the player now,” Romano wrote.

DAILY POST reported that Osimhen has flown back to Nigeria as he prepares to make a decision on his next club.

The 26-year-old was close to sealing a move to Chelsea last summer, before he eventually agreed a one-year loan deal with Galatasaray.

While it may be a rung below WWE's "Big Four" premium live events, Money in the Bank is one of the most exciting and intriguing shows on the wrestling calendar each year. This year's edition delivered plenty of action, with Seth Rollins winning for the men’s WWE Money in the Bank 2025 ladder match and Naomi winning for the women. The night’s biggest surprise came in the main event, where R-Truth made a shocking return and interfered to dramatically change the outcome.

This year's event featured five matches, with both Intercontinental Championships being defended in addition to the titular men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder contests. In the lone non-MITB or championship match of the night, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena teamed with Logan Paul against Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes.

The show opened with Naomi capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase for the first time in her career on her fifth try. Naomi’s win continues something of a career renaissance for the veteran, who has reinvented her character as a heel and now has a guaranteed championship opportunity, likely on "WWE SmackDown."

After an altercation at Worlds Collide earlier in the day, Dominik Mysterio defended his WWE Intercontinental Championship against AAA star Octagón Jr. It was an action-filled — albeit brief — contest that was a very late addition to Saturday's Money in the Bank card.

The other championship match on the card — between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria — was another instant classic between the two Irish stars. The finish, which involved Lynch using heel tactics to score the win, leaves the door wide-open for a trilogy contest between these two later this summer.

The men’s Money in the Bank contest went for more than 33 minutes and devolved into chaos in the latter stages, with run-ins from Jacob Fatu, JC Mateo, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. After Fatu turned on Solo Sikoa, paying off an ongoing teased angle, Rollins won the Money in the Bank briefcase for the second time in his career.

The main event marked the first time Rhodes has wrestled since his loss to Cena at WrestleMania 41. It was a solid match that saw several high spots from Paul and the somewhat shocking return of R-Truth, who fans had chanted for all night after news of his WWE release earlier in the week. Truth, who faced Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event two weeks ago, ran in from the crowd to attack the Undisputed WWE Champion, aiding Rhodes and Uso in the process. In the post-event press conference, WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque said Truth's reported release was "all part of the show."

Here are the full results and analysis from Money in the Bank:

 

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso defeat John Cena and Logan Paul 

  • Analysis: Uso has everything you want in a top champion. He’s solid in the ring and oozes charisma with his entrance and connection to the crowd. That’s what makes it so baffling as to why this isn’t clicking. Uso got beaten down for a significant portion of this match and, if we’re being completely honest, probably comes out of Saturday’s main event as the wrestler we’re talking about the least. We always knew we were getting Rhodes and Cena again sometime before the end of the retirement tour, so Rhodes getting the pin is unsurprising, even if it was satisfying. Paul had some hiccups, but also the drone superplex and the aforementioned best spot were innovative and maybe the in-ring high points of the night. Cena worked well with Paul and the story they told as a dysfunctional team was great during the match. The R-Truth return was a legitimately surprising moment. It’s just unclear if this can truly be a bigger launching point for him at this stage in his career, though it appears that he's being branded as Ron Killings, per WWE's latest merchandise offerings.

Seth Rollins win the men's Money in the Bank briefcase

  • Analysis: Because of the Rollins stable, this match was always going to devolve into chaos due to outside interference. "The Visionary" winning his second MITB briefcase was absolutely the right call and gives him a quick, clear path to dominance on "WWE Raw." Every man in this match got at least one major, jaw-dropping spot and had a chance to shine, it’s just unfortunate that half the field would have been a baffling booking decision had they won. After turning on Sikoa, Fatu becomes a pure babyface and we know exactly where his next feud lies. The biggest loser here, in terms of status on the card, is LA Knight, who lost in this ladder match for the third year in a row. As far as when we will see a potential cash-in, Jey Uso faces Gunther this Monday and Rollins stealing the title could set up a SummerSlam main event against CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Becky Lynch win the Women's Intercontinental Championship

  • Analysis: For the second PLE in a row, Lynch and Valkyria stole the show. This match delivered from both an in-ring and storytelling perspective and has us on a direct path toward a trilogy match between the two. Lynch has brought out the best in Valkyria, and since her return at WrestleMania 41 has shown why she is on the short list for the greatest female wrestlers of all-time. After the match we saw Valkyria snap and attack Lynch, which is the latest twist in her babyface mean streak. It will be interesting to see where WWE decides to put Lynch-Valkyria III. I can see it going on the Evolution card next month, but it could also demand the spotlight as part of the first two-night SummerSlam in August.

Dominik Mysterio retain the Intercontinental Championship

  • Analysis: For the second consecutive PLE, we had an impressive — albeit brief — luchador showcase. The action was fast-paced and great, but I wonder if this would have been better served with more time on a "Raw" Netflix show. Mysterio’s taunting of the AAA stars could lead to a bigger tag match between them and the Judgment Day, which would be excellent. Otherwise, there’s not much to take away from this sub-five minute match.

Naomi secure the Women's Money in the Bank briefcase

  • Analysis: In a match that seemingly had no bad possible outcome, Naomi’s win is an immediate breath of fresh air into the "SmackDown" women’s division and a payoff for the veteran who has overhauled her entire persona over the past few months. The MITB briefcase almost always works better with heel holding it compared to a babyface, and there’s a great full-circle moment to be told if Naomi cashes in on Tiffany Stratton in the near future. The other possibility, if WWE is ready to go this route, is for Jade Cargill to challenge for — or win — the WWE Women’s Championship and for Naomi to use the briefcase then. None of the women who competed in the night’s opener came out looking weaker, with Giulia in line for a Women’s United States Championship feud/run and "Raw’s" women’s division being deep and full of fresh matchups.

[Yahoo sports]

US President Donald Trump says he has no desire to restore his relationship with Elon Musk, the tech tycoon.

Both men fell out publicly after Musk left his role as Trump’s adviser a day after he criticised the president-backed tax bill. 

Musk cited a contract fulfilment as a reason for his exit, but Trump said he asked the businessman to leave because he was “wearing thin”. 

Trump’s comments came after both men traded words on social media.

 

In a series of posts on X, Musk accused the US president of being in the Jeffrey Epstein files, warning that his tariffs would cause a recession.

The tech tycoon also backed calls for Trump’s impeachment and called the president ungrateful for helping him win the elections. 

Most of the posts have now been deleted.

 

However, Trump told NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday that Musk was “disrespectful to the office of the president”. 

Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive officer (CEO) was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah”.

“No,” he added when asked if he had any wish to repair the relationship.

Trump said he had no plans to speak with his former employee any time soon.

 

“I’m too busy doing other things,” he said, adding, “I have no intention of speaking to him.”

“I think it’s a very bad thing, because he’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the president,” he added.

The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ approved by Trump has been passed by the house but is still being debated at the senate.

The president said there would be “serious consequences” if Musk, who is deeply critical of the bill, funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favour of the legislation.

 

Trump did not share what those consequences would be.

He also dismissed Musk’s accusations of him being named in the Epstein files, calling it “old news”.

 

“Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it,” he told NBC.

As part of the fallout consequences, Trump said he would cancel federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies.

 

The president later told NBC he had not given any thought to his suggestion.

Trump also said he had received calls from allies who have recommended investigations into Musk’s business dealings and immigration record.

Former Niger State lawmaker, Malik Madaki Bosso, has lamented the increasing poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
Bosso asserts that politicians in the nation are intentionally sustaining poverty and hunger to manipulate the populace for their political advantage.

In a harsh critique, Bosso denounced the existing political leadership for neglecting the citizens during their times of need, only to exploit them for votes during elections.

In his Sallah message to the community, Bosso urged the people to reflect and evaluate their circumstances.

Although Sallah is traditionally a time for celebration, Bosso observed that the majority of the population has been deprived of this joy due to poverty and deprivation.

He noted that, despite revenues from the Federation Account increasing by 100%, poverty and insecurity remain prevalent.

The former lawmaker said: “The highest money shared during the last government among the federal, state and local governments was about ₦750 billion. But now, the three tiers of government share about ₦1.4 to 2.4 trillion

“How can you justify that despite this huge difference, there is increasing poverty and hunger. When there is a need for people in positions of authority to help, they always complain that there’s no money.”

Bosso explained that politicians pretend to care for the people only during elections, shower them with money just to secure their votes, adding, “Once in office, they abandon the people, leaving them to struggle with poverty and insecurity.”

He called on the government at all levels to prioritise the welfare and security of the people, as mandated by the constitution, while urging Nigerians to demand accountability and good governance from their leaders.

Insisting, he said, “Resist the manipulation of greedy politicians who only care about their votes during elections.”

Furthermore, Malik expressed concern for the people of Mokwa, who are still suffering from the devastating flood that hit their communities, urging politicians not to neglect them in their time of need.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to disclose the names of the politicians he claims are responsible for the ongoing killings in the state.

The Benue chapter of the PDP, in a statement on Saturday, accused the governor of engaging in a blame game over the killings.

The opposition party was reacting to Alia’s comments during a live interview on Channels TV, where he accused Benue political office holders in Abuja of being behind the insecurity in the state.

PDP, in the statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, described the governor’s allegations as an attempt at political escapism which is not only irresponsible but also dangerously distracts from the urgent and substantive measures needed to address the crisis.

The party it views such reckless scapegoating by the governor as deeply disheartening and counterproductive.

“It is important to note that Benue’s security challenges are not in isolation in Nigeria. Neighbouring states such as Plateau and Taraba face similar threats, yet their governments have shown a more responsible approach by acknowledging the security realities and taking proactive steps to address them.

“Conversely, Governor Alia’s focus has been on blame-shifting, alternating between accusing Abuja politicians, foreign invaders and other scapegoats, instead of confronting the root causes of insecurity.

“We must ask: Are attacks in Plateau, Enugu, Taraba, or elsewhere solely attributable to Abuja representatives? Or is Benue being unfairly singled out in a political witch-hunt?

“The truth remains that herdsmen attacks in Benue predate Governor Alia’s administration, just as they did during the tenures of Governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam. ”
 



According to the PDP, previous administrations recognized the threat and called it by its name – attacks by armed herdsmen – without resorting to reckless blame-shifting.

The party noted that it is disconcerting that logic and reason seem to be absent from the Alia administration’s approach to insecurity.

“Instead of addressing the fundamental issues, the governor’s rhetoric is marred by distractions, false accusations, and propaganda.

“Benue’s security challenges must not be dismissed or sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

“To insinuate or outrightly claim that Abuja representatives are sponsors of herdsmen terrorism is not only irresponsible but a dangerous misdiagnosis of the problem,” 
the statement added.



PDP added that such reckless assertions by the Alia administration will surely undermine genuine efforts to address insecurity in the state.

The statement stressed that while the governor may enjoy immunity from prosecution, he must be reminded that the Abuja politicians he maligns do not share the privilege.

“If he genuinely believes his claims, he should present comprehensive security reports to the relevant authorities for appropriate action rather than resorting to baseless propaganda.

“The PDP urges Governor Alia to abandon the politics of blame and focus on concrete, inclusive, and responsible security strategies. Genuine leadership at this critical time requires honesty, responsibility, and a unifying spirit: qualities that are vital for a leader who also bears the moral responsibility of a Reverend,”
 the statement added.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed a fire outbreak at a hotel housing Nigerian pilgrims on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, the NAHCON Assistant Director Information and Publication Division, Fatima Sanda Usara indicated that the incident occurred today, Saturday, around noon Saudi Arabian time.

According to the statement, the affected hotel, Imaratus Sanan, was hosting about 484 pilgrims from six Nigerian Private Tour Operator Companies, noting that no lives were lost, and all the pilgrims are safely in Mina valley observing one of the core Hajj rites.

“Immediate emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading all over the building”, the added.

The NAHCON in the statement said its Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh alongside some other officials has promptly visited the hotel to assess the situation for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, the NAHCON Chairman has ordered for immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation, even as he assured that the Commission will work with the affected tour operators to provide necessary assistance to the victims.

In what is a clear defiance to Tanzanian media personality Mange Kimambi's warning, Priscilla, daughter of actress Iyabo Ojo, has shared even more photos from her wedding to Tanzanian singer Juma Jux.

Recall that Mange had shared a post on her IG page on Friday, June 6, asking Priscilla to stop posting any content from her wedding as Tanzanian's are being distracted from serious issues such as the demand for electoral reforms ahead of their national elections.

Priscilla seems to ignore her and has now shared more photos from her wedding.

She wrote: ‘’Thank God say man nor be God''