A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has claimed that the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said that Shaibu decamped to the APC out of the frustration he suffered in the hands of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Obaseki stated this at UNIBEN during the grand finale of the APC governorship campaign.

He accused Obaseki of diverting funds and allocations from the Federal Government meant for projects in the state into his private pocket.

Oshiomhole said, “It’s only under Obaseki that his deputy governor had to decamp to APC due to his frustration.

“Obaseki has refused to sign the Peace Accord. They killed the policeman attached to our governor in waiting but Obaseki warned that they should not be arrested.”

Obaseki and Shaibu have endured a troubled relationship.

The strife led to the impeachment of Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.

But an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja reinstated Shaibu as deputy governor.

Naija News reports that on September 21, the people of Edo State will decide their next governor.

Frontrunners in Saturday’s governorship election are Monday Okpebholo of the APC, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a caution regarding any efforts to manipulate the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Naija News reports that next Saturday, September 21, Edo State residents are expected to troop out en mass to vote for their next governor.

Atiku, who was in the state today alongside other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to support the party’s candidate, emphasized that Edo is not like Lagos, where, as he claims, the All Progressives Congress (APC) can orchestrate electoral fraud.

The 2023 presidential candidate for the PDP made these remarks in the Ekenwan area of Edo State during the concluding event of the party’s campaign rally for the governorship election.

Atiku also encouraged the citizens of Edo to safeguard their votes to prevent any potential rigging.

He said: “If you remember, four years ago, they threatened us, didn’t they do that? They said they won’t allow us to win in Edo State.

“But what did we show them, ‘we showed them that Edo State no be Lagos,’ didn’t we do it?

“So this time again, we are going to show them that ‘Edo no be Lagos.’ They can’t steal votes here, therefore, protect, defend, escort your votes.

“Make sure your votes are entered, make sure your results are announced, of you do that no Jupiter will come and change your votes.

“You are winning next week, do you agree? ‘Edo no be Lagos.”

Next Saturday, residents of Edo State will head to the polls to elect their next governor.

The major candidates in the gubernatorial election include Asue Ighodalo from the PDP, Monday Okpebholo representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

Popular Afrobeats superstar, Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, has urged Nigerian leaders to implement effective measures to address the hardship in the country.

He asserted that temporary relief would not assuage the suffering of the people.

The singer encouraged Nigerian leaders to establish sustainable platforms to consistently provide for the masses.

He shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Breakfast Club.

Rema also stated that he has been advising Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on some of his policies whenever they meet.

He said, “It’s not about giving rice. Do you know if some kids have an allergy to rice? What about tomorrow? What are they going to eat tomorrow?

“It’s better to create a platform that would consistently provide. Create a platform that would consistently educate. Create a platform that would consistently clothe. Create a platform that would consistently shelter the hungry people.”

A woman from the United States, Rachel Bailey, 30, has revealed that she breastfeeds her husband.

According to Bailey, the practice has made them closer and also improved her husband, Alexander, health.

The couple started the act in 2017 and have not look back since then.

According to Daily Mail, Bailey’s husband initially began drinking Rachel’s breastmilk to help her when she was over-lactating while nursing their children.

The couple insist that it’s ‘not a kink for them’ and that they aren’t embarrassed by it because ‘nothing bad has come from it all’.

Bailey said, “It’s a bit of a taboo subject, but we wanted to share it because we don’t think it’s bad and we aren’t ashamed.

“When my middle child, Aria, now six, was breastfeeding, I went away on a cruise with Alexander.

“However, I forgot my breast pump and was badly engorged for two days.

“I was in so much pain and I was scared about getting an infection, so we decided that my husband was going to try drinking the milk to relieve me.

“We were nervous about the idea of him breastfeeding from me but as soon as we did it, we realized it was perfectly fine.”

Rachel said it was ‘an instant relief when Alexander latched on’.

“On top of that, it has also created a more special bond between us which we never would have had if we didn’t start this,” she added.

When she was producing the most milk shortly after giving birth, he was drinking her milk ‘three to four times a day’.

Emerging reports indicate that the Dangote Refinery is poised to sell petrol at ₦766 per litre to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

This development follows the arrival of at least 300 trucks from NNPC at the refinery.

Multiple sources within the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, and major energy marketers have confirmed that the agreement to supply crude oil to the Dangote refinery in naira has significantly influenced the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, announced on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that the trucks have arrived and are set to begin loading petrol on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

A major marketer who spoke with Punch on the development said, “What we are going to see based on the deal between NNPC and Dangote is similar to the DSDP (Direct Sale of crude oil and Direct Purchase of petroleum products) transactions that used to exist between NNPC and foreign refineries in the past.

“And this has really impacted positively on the price of petrol that Dangote is selling to NNPC, because the cost is around ₦766/litre. But I can’t tell how much NNPC is going to sell to marketers now.”

Another senior aide to President Bola Tinubu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the petrol would be sold at ₦766/litre.

The UK government has announced a significant increase in the financial requirements for international students, effective from January 2nd, 2025. This marks the first adjustment to the financial thresholds since 2020, reflecting rising cost-of-living expenses across the UK. 

Under the new rules, international students will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses for up to nine months. The financial requirements vary depending on whether students plan to study in London or outside of the capital:

• Studying in London: Students will now need to show evidence of having £1,483 per month, up from the previous £1,334, representing an 11.2% increase.
• Studying Outside London: Students must prove they have £1,136 per month, up from £1,023, reflecting an 11.1% increase.

These adjustments aim to align the financial requirements for international students with the maintenance loans available to domestic students, with the last financial review taking place in 2020.

To meet the new financial threshold, students intending to study in London for nine months or more will need to show a total of £13,348 in savings, based on the new monthly requirement of £1,483.

Reports confirm that the UK government made these changes to keep pace with inflation and rising living costs. The increased financial requirements are intended to reflect the growing cost of living in the UK, ensuring that international students can support themselves during their studies.

The chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has raised concerns about internal party loyalty, citing Senator Dino Melaye’s actions during the recent Kogi gubernatorial election.

In a recent interview with Daily Trust, Umar Iliya Damagum, addressed remarks made by Senator Dino Melaye, who had referred to the PDP as a "once upon a time party."

Damagum didn't mince words, squarely placing some of the responsibility for the party's challenges on Melaye's shoulders.

"Let me remind you about that statement credited to Dino. He's part of the problem," Damagum said, citing Melaye's run for governor in Kogi State, where, according to the chairman, the senator didn't even vote for himself. "Put that on record: he didn’t go out to vote in his own election," Damagum emphasised, highlighting what he viewed as a lack of commitment to the party.

The PDP Chairman went on to question Melaye's role in allegedly harming the party’s image, stating that anyone given the party’s platform has a responsibility to uplift its fortunes. He acknowledged that while winning or losing is part of the process, candidates owe it to the party to at least lose "credibly."

Senator Dino Melaye has been suspended by the PDP for alleged anti-party activities, further deepening internal rifts within the party.

Controversial artist, Portable has announced the birth of his daughter with his fourth baby mama, Ashabi Simple.

The singer took to his Instagram page to share the good news with his followers.

He expressed his gratitude to God for the successful birth of the newborn.

According to Portable, he is welcoming his third female child.

Portable wrote, “ZAzuu With hearts full of joy, we welcome our third princess to d world, thank you GOD for not shaming us, eyitayo Alhamdulilahi. God bless you my woman I fly with you forever @ashabi.mohsimple_ Mummy @fitilamihan_atandaogo iya new born baby Akoi Blessings my beautiful princes welcome to the world Ọmọ OGO OGO Ni God bless BADMUS family”.

Nigeria will soon introduce a Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) to enhance border security and improve the travel experience in line with global best practices, announced Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Interior.

Tunji Ojo made this announcement during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity-building workshop on advanced passenger information/passenger name record (API/PNR) solutions for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel. The workshop was organized by Newworks and led by specialists from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) will be a digital version of a traveller’s identity, potentially replacing traditional passports. It will include the traveller’s facial image, biographical data, and security features validated through the issuing authority’s public key infrastructure. This initiative aims to streamline and secure international travel by facilitating easier verification of travellers’ identities and vaccination statuses.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized that introducing the DTC is part of a broader strategy to modernize border control and enhance security. “We are not stopping here. Once we deploy the API and PNR, we will move on to implementing the Digital Travel Certificate,” he said. He also expressed readiness to collaborate with IATA and other global partners on additional border control solutions.

The Controller General of the NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, highlighted the significance of the training, noting that it was the first of its kind. “This specialized training for API and PNR will make our borders more secure, enable target-based clearance at airports, and enhance our ability to monitor cross-border crimes,” she said.

Nandap commended the minister for his leadership in advancing these technologies, which had been in planning for nearly 14 years without success. The new systems will allow faster and more seamless passenger clearance and provide better foresight regarding who enters the country.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has doubled down on his threat to instigate anarchy and unrest in states of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wike and Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State have been at daggers drawn over the political control and structure of the state.

Amid the virulent power tussle, the PDP governors forum declared their support for Fubara against the minister.

Exasperated by the governors’ position, Wike had threatened to put fire in the state of any governor who interfered in the political crisis in Rivers State.

However, featuring on Channels TV Politics Today, Wike said he had not changed his position on his threat to the governors, saying heaven would not fall.

“I said it to the governors forum and I repeat without any apologies to anybody anywhere. Heaven will never fall, in fact; if heaven falls there will be peace.

“You mean as I sit as FCT Minister from Rivers State, the only person I can say I have no relationship with is the governor of Zamfara, I don’t know him; if I see him now I won’t know him.”

He asserted that the governors’ action was tantamount to violation of the constitution, saying he would not stand by and let that happen.

“I know all other governors and they know me and we have a relationship. You mean you want to violate the processes and constitution of our party.

“After your meeting, you came out on national television as chairman of the forum to read a communique that their brother in Rivers state – whether legal or not – and I’m sitting as FCT Minister from that state listening, and you expect me to fold my arms because you are a governor?

“You look at me and tell me that? Expecting me to fold my hand for everything to be well?”