By Ehichioya Ezomon In my copy of Monday, January 15, 2024, entitled, “Shaibu’s talk about Obaseki’s betrayal laughable,” I posed the question, “Do politicians have conscience, and if they do, does it prick them?” This followed the declaration by the lately impeached Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, that Governor Godwin Obaseki had betrayed him by refusing to back his aspiration to succeed him on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Comrade Shaibu had reckoned that Obaseki supporting his ambition would be reciprocal for what he did to aid his first and second term elections, and his governments (under All…
Author: National Update
Traditional Ruler of Daffo in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, and the promoter of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self Determination (NINAS), Mr. Tony Nnadi, Thursday disagreed over the modalities to be adopted in birthing a new Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Akuns and Nnadi were among speakers at a consultative meeting convened by the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) on new constitution held via ZOOM. Akuns contended that the 1963 Republican Constitution was not abrogated, all the House of Representatives need to do was to amend it to preserve Nigeria’s democratic…
The federal ministry of arts, culture and creative economy has set aside a whopping sum of N3.7 billion for “research and development”. The money was cited in the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion signed by President Bola Tinubu in January this year. Tinubu had proposed N27.5 trillion, but the lawmakers jerked it up by N1.2 trillion. Recall that the appropriation act came under scrutiny after Abdul Ningi, now suspended senator representing Bauchi central, alleged that the budget was padded by N3 trillion. In the budget for the ministry created by the Tinubu administration, the sum of N160 million will be…
The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has commended the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Dr. Shubham Chaudhari for his Significant Contributions to Nigeria’s Economic Growth At an event held in Abuja, hosted by the Minister to honour the out-going World Bank Country Director, Mr Edun acknowledged the Organization’s crucial role in promoting socio-economic sustainability and enhancing Nigeria’s economic competitiveness. A statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations Mohammed Manga quoted the minister to have expressed appreciation for the remarkable achievements recorded during Dr. Chaudhari’s tenure. He reaffirmed the country’s commitment to…
By Bolaji Afolabi For democracy to thrive, it is imperative that various elements including opposition political parties, civil societies, faith and community-based organisations, the media, and citizens play their respective roles as watchdog of government in every way, where possible. Since Nigeria’s return to full-blown democracy in 1999, the fourth republic has witnessed the emergence and relevance of some individuals and groups who, at different times and diverse ways performed defining functions as checks to successive governments. The likes of Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Ayo Obe; Late Yinka Odumakin; Idiat Hassan; Ene Obi; Auwalu Rafsijani; Hussein Abdu; Clement Nwankwo; Kayode Ogundamisi;…
8Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LL.M, Ph.D., LL.D., D.Litt, D.Sc. A famous Nigerian musician with the stage name, Patoranking, in his track, “Celebrate me”, admonished us on the need to celebrate and appreciate people while they are alive. High Chief Tom Ikimi, CON, FNIA KSG, D.Sc, the Akinrogun of Ife, the Inneh of Igueben, is, in the word of Patoranking, a “big name” and a towering figure in both stature and influence. He stands out as a beacon of resilience, wisdom, integrity and leadership. High Chief Tom Ikimi, my elder friend and brother from Igueben, Edo State, was…
Khalid Ibn Abubakar Political power play, power game as well as high political interests aggregation, are normal variables that define partisan politics. However, when these correlates are stretched beyond certain limits, there may be the likelihood of ushering in very dangerous instinctual reactions that have huge capacity for destabilizing the polity. For all followers of the politics of Kano, Northwest Nigeria, particularly between May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007, there is a tie-back to the historical precedence of the joint electoral victory between Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as then governor-elect and Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, PhD, as deputy governor-elect,…
By Ehichioya Ezomon It’s no surprise that Nigeria’s plethora of security agencies – due to their remarkable lack of capacity for intelligence gathering, and non-proactive approach to nipping potential untoward happenings in the bud – missed the planning and execution of the siege to the Government Secretariat in Ibadan, capital city of Oyo State, where so-called Yoruba Nation agitators hoisted their Flag for a proclaimed creation of “Democratic Republic of the Yoruba” on Saturday, April 13, 2024. As one of the arrested (or surrendered) suspects – a 55-year-old lecturer at a Federal College of Education – revealed, membership of the…
The Kogi State Government has commenced the distribution of food palliatives to the people of the state in continuation of the its commitment to cushioning the impact of economic downturn on the people. Governor Usman Ododo of the State who was represented by the State Deputy Governor, Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu indicated that the distribution of the food palliatives from the strategic grain reserve of the federal government underscores the shared understanding by all tiers of government as it concerns the challenges faced by Nigerians due to the prevailing economic hardship. Special adviser on media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah…
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state by sefeating fifteen other aspirants in a landslide victory The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, made the declaration on Monday morning in Akure, the state capital. Ododo said Aiyedatiwa clinched the APC ticket with a total of 48,569 votes followed by his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with…