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Articles by Matthew Ojo
Democracy’s Deaf Ear
Matthew Ojo (Special) · Follow 1 min read · -- “Democracy, often hailed as the ultimate form of governance, promises equality, representation, and justice. Yet, the reality many face is a stark contrast. The voices of the masses are often drowned out by those in power, their cries for change ignored.
Finally, daughters of ex-Zamfara AG freed after 7 months in bandits’ den
At last, bandits have released the abducted daughters of Abubakar Furfuri, a former Accountant-General (AG) in Zamfara state, after spending seven months in captivity. The five girls were reportedly abducted from their home in Furfuri, a community in Bungudu Local Government in March. In October, their kidnappers were said to have released a video showing the girls carrying firearms and threatened to recruit them into banditry if the ransom they demanded was not paid.
Soldier detained for stabbing resident to death in Abia
A soldier, Saeed Sabo, of the 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu, is in police custody for allegedly stabbing a 34-year-old man to death in Umuahia, Abia State. The victim, Offor Uchenna, was said to have been stabbed on his chest by the soldier, who was attached to a Chinese construction company in Umuahia. PUNCH Metro gathered that an altercation ensued between the duo around 10am on Saturday following the soldier’s inability to pay for goods he previously bought before buying a new one.
BREAKING: Peter Umeadi wins APGA’s Presidential primary
Professor Peter Umeadi, Wednesday, clinched the Presidential ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA at a special convention attended by party leaders and members drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country. At a special convention at the Katampe-Abuja national headquarters of the party, a total of 150 delegates affirmed the candidacy of Prof. Umeadi by a voice vote.
‘Why south-east APC delegates shunned Tinubu’s Abuja invitation’
The delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) representing the South-East have declined a request from the former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu to hold a campaign meeting with them in Abuja. The delegates noted that their region had been neglected in the APC presidential aspirant’s nationwide tour. Hence, they shunned an invitation summoning them to Abuja on Saturday.
N80bn fraud: Galadima slams Buhari-led govt, speaks on major causes of insecurity
A former member of the board of trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Buba Galadima has decried the approach of President Muhammadu Buhari towards nipping corruption in the bud in his administration. Galadima, while giving his assessment of the fight against corruption in Nigeria, said the arrest of the former Accountant-General of the federation, Ahmed Idris did not justify that the Buhari-led administration was fighting corruption.
NWC crack deepens as members slam APC chair over unilateral decisions
The crack in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) widened on Tuesday. Two top members accused National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu of rendering the administrative organ of the ruling party redundant. Salihu Lukman (National Vice-Chairman, Northwest) and Isaacs Kekemeke (National Vice-Chairman, Southwest) warned that Adamu’s actions were capable of causing the APC incalculable damage.
Atiku’s emergence: Southeast rethinks strategy ahead of 2023 presidency
The national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which denied the southeast region an opportunity to produce the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general elections, has opened a new vista in the demand by the region for the number one slot in the country. Already, there is new thinking in the region on how the Igbo would return to national politics in the scheme of things in the country in 2023, through the ballot.
JUST IN: Fresh suit seeks Atiku’s disqualification
A fresh suit seeking the disqualification of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the 2023 presidential election has emerged. Recall that Atiku polled 371 votes to emerge as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party at the party’s convention held on Saturday. The fresh suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/751/2022, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday by a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi.
Again, Buhari jets out of Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for Madrid, Spain on a State Visit at the invitation of the Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez alongside Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare and the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora. The president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
JUST IN: Terrorists attack 5 officials of NIWA in Anambra state
Gunmen have attacked five officials of the Nigerian Inland Water Ways Authority, NIWA, inflicting gunshot injuries on them. Vanguard gathered the workers who are members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, were attacked on Wednesday 25th May 2022 at Otu Junction, Nnewi South, Anambra State, on their way to their official assignment.
Take lessons from Tambuwal, compel Tinubu, Fayemi, others to step down - APC chieftain
An All Progressives Congress Senator, Muhammad Abba Aji, has advised the South-West leaders and traditional rulers to learn from what happened in the Peoples Democratic Party and how Governor Aminu Tambuwal accepted to step down his ambition. Aji said it was the northern leaders that compelled Tambuwal, a presidential aspirant of the PDP, to withdraw from the presidential race so as to enable a former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, to emerge as the winner of the presidential primaries.
BREAKING: Buhari, APC governors currently meeting in Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress are currently meeting in the presidential villa Abuja. The meeting which is being held at the Council Chambers may not be unconnected with the All Progressive Congress convention slated for the 6th of June to produce its presidential flagbearer.
Okorocha sues Malami, EFCC, demands N1bn
Former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged breach of his fundamental human rights. Operatives of the EFCC had arrested Okorocha last Tuesday, after over six hours of laying siege to his Maitama Abuja home. Dozens of protesters had stormed his Abuja home to protest against the siege to arrest him.
BREAKING: Court grants Okorocha bail
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday imposed stringent bail conditions on former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha who is standing trial for alleged N2.9 billion corruption charges. Okorocha was admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million with a surety in the same amount. He was barred from traveling out of the country except with the express permission of the court.
Uber, Bolt drivers commence strike in Abuja
The drivers are calling for immediate upward review of e-cab fares to reflect the current economic realities in the country. Dozens of Uber and Bolt e-cab drivers on Monday in Abuja under the auspices of National Coalition of Ridesharing Professionals (NACORP) embarked on a three-day warning strike over alleged exploitation and extortion by the e-hailing companies. The drivers are calling for immediate upward review of e-cab fares to reflect the current economic realities in the country.
Nnamdi Kanu’s brother reveals major setback responsible for Wike’s loss
Kanunta, a brother of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has suggested why Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State lost at the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election. He alleged that the IPOB and those killed during the massacre of Obigbo were responsible for Wike’s loss at the PDP primaries. In a tweet, Kanunta dismissed claims that Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto betrayed Wike.
JUST IN: Tinubu’s critic emerges APC presidential screening committee chairman
John Odigie Oyegun has emerged as the chairman of the screening committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress, according to party insiders familiar with the development. Mr Oyegun has started supervising the screening of APC presidential aspirants in Abuja, our sources said. A source said Mr Oyegun’s emergence as the head of the committee could be problematic for Bola Tinubu. The top APC aspirant had openly led a fight that toppled Mr Oyegun as the party chairman in 2018.
JUST IN: Atiku, Wike, Fayose, others meet in Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has met with the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Peter Fayose and other stakeholders of the party in Abuja. The reason for their meeting has not been ascertained as at the time of filling this report. Atiku had defeated Wike, Saraki, Ayim, Bala Mohammed, and others at the party’s presidential primary.
Helen Paul bags professorship, becomes dept head in U. S university
Helen Paul has been appointed as the Head of the Department of Arts, Music and Entertainment at Heart International University, United States. The comedienne announced the good news in a post shared on Instagram in the early hours of Monday. She shared photos from her induction and also congratulated her husband Femi Bamisile who also graduated as a Doctor of Law from the same institution. Helen Paul wrote on Instagram, “Congratulations to us my love. Such a great honour for both of us.
BREAKING: Court remands Okorocha in EFCC custody over alleged N2.9bn fraud
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of his bail application. To join Okorocha in EFCC custody is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an ally to the ex-governor, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye.
Primaries: ‘What Atiku did with Tambuwal to win ticket’
More facts were revealed on Sunday how former Vice President Atiku Abubakar beat 14 other aspirants to clinch the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday. It was learnt that two last-minute negotiations with presidential aspirants from the North, especially Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, gave Atiku the cutting edge over his closest rival, River State Governor Nyesom Wike. The former Vice-President had 371 votes as against Wike’s 237.
Pro-zoning forces fume, slam Tambuwal, PDP over Atiku’s candidacy
Organisations clamouring for power shift to the South on Sunday expressed anger over the emergence of a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the 2023 presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. The groups and individuals, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, said Atiku’s emergence negated the zoning principle entrenched in the PDP constitution.
Alleged N117bn fraud: ‘How wanted Accountant-General won Rivers PDP guber primary’
The Rivers State Accountant General, Fubara Siminialayi has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections. Siminalayi’s success in the governorship primary comes barely 24 hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him and four other Rivers State government officials wanted for suspected N117 billion fraud, alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office.
JUST IN: APC chieftain dumps party, withdraws from guber race
Senator Magnus Abe has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also withdrew from the APC Governorship race. Abe announced his withdrawal from the contest through the South South Cordinator of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Vanguard (BATS-V), Sir Tony Okocha. Okocha however said despite dumping the APC, Abe’s Rivers governorship ambition in is still on course. More details to follow… Subscribe to Our VIP Newsletter
INTERPOL nab suspected head of int’l cybercrime gang in Nigeria
A 37-year-old Nigerian man in an international operation spanning four continents has been arrested by the cybercrime unit of the Nigeria Police Force at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. The arrest was made known in a statement released on Wednesday following a major sting last year that resulted in the arrest of more than a dozen suspects allegedly tied to the notorious Nigerian crime ring, dubbed “SilverTerrier” by cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks.
INEC identifies major threats to Nigeria’s democracy
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Nigeria’s democracy is being threatened by the predominance of money politics. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said this on Wednesday at a one-day colloquium on emerging issues that will shape the 2023 general election. The event was organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in Abuja.
‘How soldier shot colleague during clash with Ogun cultists’
There was pandemonium at Ibafo area of Ogun State when a soldier reportedly shot his colleague during a clash with some suspected cultists. It was gathered that some groups of internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo boys, had launched an attack on each other over an issue. One group had hired cultists to attack the other, which in return employed some soldiers to engage the other in a free-for-all.
JUST IN: Mohammed Abacha wins Kano PDP governorship primaries
Mohammed Abacha, a son of the late Nigerian military leader Sani Abacha, has emerged winner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election in Kano. The returning officer, Barrister Amina Garba, declared Mr Abacha winner after polling 736 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jafar Sani-Bello, who scored 710 votes.
Abba Kyari to be moved from Kuje prison over murder attempt - Officials
Prison officials are considering moving suspended police officer Abba Kyari to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) from the Kuje prison after he nearly got murdered by aggrieved inmates, who accused him of insincerity in bribe-for-release deals when he was in active service, Premium Times reports. According to internal documents and officials accessed by Premium Times, the attack happened on May 4, months after Mr Kyari, who is on trial for drug-related offences, was remanded.
Okorocha’s refusal to honour EFCC invitaion, elite arrogance, disrespect of rules- Osita Chidoka
A former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps and ex-Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has condemned the event leading to, and the eventual arrest of a former Imo State Governor and serving senator, Rochas Okorocha, at his Abuja residence on Tuesday by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He stated that it was a display of the weakness of the Nigerian State. Chidoka stated this in a statement posted to his Facebook page Wednesday morning.
Group writes facebook to delete Reno Omokri’s page(+doc)
Kaduna State-based group, People’s Right Organisation, has asked Facebook’s company, Meta, to stop a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, from using the platform to incite violence and instigate ethnic hatred in Nigeria.
Primaries: Ozigbo slams Chris Uba, sends strong message to PDP chair
Valentine Ozigbo has accused Chris Uba, a People Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees member of hijacking the result sheet for the ward congress to elect delegates in Anambra state. Ozigbo is contesting for Anambra South senatorial District PDP ticket. Accusing Uba of impunity, Ozigbo said the politician “hijacked the panel and results sheet” for the congress expected to take place in the wards across the state.
JUST IN: Again, top PDP candidate withdraws from guber race
Ahead of the gubernatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the immediate past Deputy Governor of Zamfara State Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau has stepped down from the race. He announced this in a statement signed by his Principal Secretary Umar Aminu in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital on Wednesday. Mahdi Gusau urged the delegates, party leaders, and his supporters to vote for Dr. Lawal Dauda to emerge as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Zamfara State.
Kogi : Why I lost PDP primary -Dino Melaye
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, has blamed gang-up for his loss at the primary to elect the senatorial candidate for Kogi West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Recall that the lawmaker representing Kabba/Bunu Ijumu Federal constituency, Tajudeen Yusuf, defeated Senator Dino Melaye to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial ticket in Kogi State. Yusuf defeated Melaye, who represented Kogi West in the eighth Assembly with 163 votes as against 99 votes polled by Melaye.
BREAKING: Terrorists invade Kukah’s church, kidnap priests, others
Gunmen early Wednesday broke into one of the parishes presided over by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, The Punch reports. The Punch gathered that the armed hoodlums kidnapped two priests and two others in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State. Kukah’s Sokoto Diocese covers Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States.
BREAKING: At last, EFCC arrests Okorocha
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission finally arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, after a long siege to his Maitama residence in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday. The EFCC officers whisked the embattled former governor away at exactly 06:48 pm in their vehicle after breaking into his living room.
[BREAKING] PDP Primaries: Dino Melaye loses PDP ticket to Reps member
The hope of Senator Dino Melaye to return to the National Assembly was on Tuesday evening dashed by delegates who voted more for his political rival, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf Dino failed to secure the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket when he polled 99 votes against TJ Yusuf who is currently representing Kabba/Bunu Ijumu Federal constituency, who polled 163 votes.
Why we stormed Okorocha’s home - EFCC
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to effect his arrest. The move, according to the Spokesman for the EFCC Mr Wilson Uwujaren, followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the anti-graft agency.
2023 presidency: Tinubu distressed, says Okorocha
Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State and a presidential aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is distressed by his lifelong ambition to be president due to his contributions to the party. Okorocha who is the senator representing Imo West, said this in an interview on ARISE TV.
Ned Nwoko gifts staff over N10m
opular businessman and politician, Ned Nwoko, has clinched the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial ticket for Delta North district ahead of the 2023 general elections. To celebrate his win, the politician splashed over N10m on his staff, as he gifted N100,000 each to over 100 members of his staff. His actress wife, Regina Daniels announced this on her Instagram page late Monday. On her Instagram story, she revealed, “Hubby is so grateful and happy.
2023: Wike meets Obasanjo
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers paid a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Monday to consult and solicit his support for his presidential ambition in 2023. He was accompanied on the visit by Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue. Wike told newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo that he visited to learn from the wealth of experience of the former president.
Terrorists attack: Kaduna airport resumes flight operations
The Kaduna airport has resumed flight operations two months after shutting down over an attack by gunmen. Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, acting general manager, corporate affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed this to TheCable on Monday. Hope-Ivbaze said flight operations commenced today. “Flight operations to Kaduna airport have commenced today with Azman Air,” she said. In March, recall that gunmen attacked the airport and killed a security guard.
Taraba: ‘How 4 local govt chairmen lost primary elections’
The dreams of four local government council chairmen to become members of the state House of Assembly in Taraba State was on Sunday dashed over their alleged refusal to carry the constituents along. Adi Grace Daniel of Wukari, Shiban Tikari of Takum, Hassan Karma of Ussa and Markus Hammidu of Karim-Lamido failed to secure the needed votes at the just concluded state House of Assembly primaries on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
JUST IN: Aisha Buhari, Tallen, Osinbajo’s wife storm APC secretariat
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari; Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo on Monday breezed into the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress. The embattled minister has been in the news lately after she dropped her senatorial ambition a week after she purchased the APC form to contest the Plateau South Senatorial election.
BREAKING: 2 policemen shot, 1 killed during PDP primaries in Cross River
Two policemen have been shot at the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Representatives primaries in the Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. The primary election is to nominate a candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections for the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara federal constituency. The rescheduled primaries were billed to hold at a school, Handmaid’s International Nursery and Primary School along hospital Road, according to Cross Rivers Watch.
Gombe : PDP unveils winners of State Assembly, Reps’ primaries (+FULL LIST)
The Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State concluded its State Houses of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries on Sunday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that six and 24 candidates that emerged were elected for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly respectively.
UK extradites Nigerian to U.S. over alleged ‘YahooYahoo’
The U.S. government has announced the extradition of a Nigerian, Chibundu Anuebunwa, a suspect accused of a multi-million dollar business email compromise scam, Mr Anuebunwa was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges in the United States before U.S. Magistrate Katharine Parker, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on Friday.
PDP chieftain reveals how much US dollars, Atiku, Wike will splash on delegates
Doyin Okupe, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary election will be characterised by financial inducements, suggesting that the party’s ticket will go to the biggest spender in dollar currency. According to him, top PDP presidential aspirants like Atiku Abubakar, Governor Nyesom Wike were ready to pay $10,000 to each delegate to emerge the party’s flag bearer.
Reps probe NPA over alleged multi-million dollar non-remittance to treasury
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has started an investigation to unravel the multi-million dollar debt owed Federal Government by terminal operators and the failure by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to account for billions of naira accruing to the national treasury. The investigation is sequel to 12 audit queries from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation on the financial statement of NPA for the 2019 financial year.
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