Category Archives: Politics

Nwifuru congratulates new NOUN VC

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Gov. Francis Nwifuru has congratulated an Ebonyi indigene, Prof. Orji Uduma, on his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Nwifuru’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, and made available to newsmen on Monday.

The governor described the appointment made by the institution’s governing council as a testament to Uduma’s outstanding academic pedigree.

“This is also a testament to your sterling leadership qualities, and immense contributions to philosophical scholarship and national development.

Read Also: Eradiri sets agenda for Diri’s defection to APC 

“You have, over the years, brought honour and pride to Ebonyi and Nigeria through your scholarship, intellectual rigour, and mentorship of younger academics,” the governor is quoted as saying.

He expressed confidence that Prof. Uduma would bring his wealth of experience and integrity to bear in advancing the mandate of NOUN.

“This will foster academic excellence and expand access to quality education in the country,” the governor, according to the statement, said.

He wished the appointee a successful tenure and God’s continued wisdom to discharge his duties.

Uduma hails from Nguzu community in Edda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi.

He is a former Director of the the Abakaliki centre of NOUN who later became the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the institution.

(NAN) 

Eradiri sets agenda for Diri’s defection to APC 

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Mr. Udengs Eradiri, a former President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has welcomed the plan by Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Eradiri, who is also a chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa, appealed to Diri to first call a stakeholders’ meeting and use his influence and position as a governor to resolve the internal crisis rocking the APC in the state.

The former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa, asked Diri to unite the camps of former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri.

Eradiri, who spoke on the development on Monday advised Diri against succumbing to any pressure to sideline Sylva, the pioneer leader of the APC in Bayelsa, positing that leaving out the former governor in the ongoing negotiations would be counterproductive.

He said Diri was expected to bring his peaceful demeanour to the APC and to manage the differences in the party the same way he worked amicably with all the interests in the PDP.

Addressing the governor, Eradiri said: ” I will commend you , the way you managed the PDP in Bayelsa. The PDP was stable until the recent conflicts that we had in Rivers that led to some of the divisions we have seen. You came in as governor and managed all the interests until you took over the structures.

“I believe that your coming to APC is to come and also manage this emotion to the point where we will have one strong party because the day you join the APC you become the leader by the Constitution of the party.

“Former Governor Sylva has contributed immensely to the development of APC. All those people throwing stones at Sylva today were not there when Sylva was toiling and building this party. We were in the PDP and we fought him to ensure that we had our way. But that strengthen the APC we have in the state today.

“Heineken Lokpobiri became minister and he allowed these people to push him around and he wants to assert leadership. It won’t work. There must be seeming respect for the man who had toiled and suffered for the foundation of this party. Sylva has supported a lot of people including the Minister. You can’t just push him aside.

“We expect that you bring that your peaceful demeanour to come and override these interests and lead it as a peaceful house. Bayelsa has a lot of benefits to derive from the APC if we are a strong united family.

“We don’t want a situation when you come in and these individuals will begin to push you on one side to undermine Sylva and others,.who hold the structure of the party. I am appealing to you to call a stakeholders’ meeting, engage Sylva, the Minister and bring this party together before your formal defection”.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu escorts Tinubu to airport amid reconciliation

Eradiri further insisted that with strong leadership from the governor, Bayelsa would benefit immensely from the looming defection.

He recalled that he once advised the governor, his predecessors, Senator Seriake Dickson and other Ijaw leaders to move to the ruling party to enable the state to attract the necessary development.

Eradiri said with Diri concluding his plans to defect to the APC, Bayelsa would have global exposure required to attract investors.

He said: “What are the things we are going to benefit from this APC? It is the capacity that you dispense as a leader that will guarantee the activities for the betterment of your people. If you are in the APC, you must be up and doing.

“You were in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and you were holding meetings at the sideline with investors. The implication of being an APC man is that when you leave, those investors you have spoken to will call your country or the Presidency if you are not aligned they will take that investment to the state that is APC.

“If you are in the ruling party, they will secure the investments for you. The beauty of working with the party in power is that you are also seated on the table of discuss. The President is going abroad for engagements our governor will also be there without any fear or favour. In the sidelines he can be marketing the state and because you are always with the President, there is this confidence in the investments or transactions.

“When leaders sit down to discuss Nigeria you will have Bayelsans and Ijaw Nation seated on the table. I saw the meeting of APC leaders and there was no Ijaw on that table. We are the fourth largest ethnic nationality and that is why I have been critical about the kind of decisions and actions we take so that it doesn’t boomerang to affect us negatively.

“We must conduct ourselves in such a way that we are part and parcel of decision-making. We cannot be contributing to all the resources and we are not on the table of decision-making. I want to welcome you to the APC and we are ready to support you to

succeed”.

 (NAN)

Umahi urges South-East to back Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on the people of the South-East to throw their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, stressing that the region has benefited greatly from his administration.

Umahi made the appeal on Saturday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, while receiving the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who was on an inspection tour of Federal Government projects in Enugu and Ebonyi States.

The former governor of Ebonyi described Tinubu as “God sent” to Nigeria and the South-East, citing massive investments in road and bridge construction across the region.

“The good works that President Tinubu is doing for the South-East are not hidden, especially in roads and bridges. He is fair and just, ensuring that no region is left behind in the dividends of democracy,” Umahi said.

He added that all governors of the region are already in support of Tinubu and should sustain that support ahead of the 2027 elections. Umahi also urged the South-East to “re-engage” politically rather than rely on sentiments in pursuit of the presidency.

Read Also: Tinubu overhauls NTA Leadership, appoints Rotimi Pedro as new DG

“We have to support other regions, and at God’s appointed time, the presidency will come to us. Who knows, maybe it could even be me,” he said jokingly.

Highlighting Tinubu’s economic reforms, Umahi noted that inflation had dropped to 21.8 percent and foreign reserves had risen above $40 billion. He also referenced commendations from the World Bank and WTO chief, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as proof that the President was steering the nation on the right path.

The minister further stated that, for the first time in decades, the South-East was witnessing a strong federal presence in terms of infrastructure projects.

“I was deputy governor, governor for eight years, and even chairman of a party, but I never saw this level of federal projects in the South-East. President Tinubu has changed the story,” Umahi said.

Obi won 2023 election, Tinubu is ‘full of himself’ — Babachir Lawal

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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has insisted that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi won the 2023 general election.

Speaking on Politics Tonight on Channels Television on Monday, Lawal said that based on data and facts available to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not emerge as the rightful winner.

Read Also: Peter Obi reaffirms 4-Year single-term pledge

“The problem with Bola Tinubu is that he thinks I’m the one that offended him. I didn’t offend him; he offended me, and he is full of himself. He thinks that now, as so-called president… I believe he didn’t win the election,” Lawal stated.

He explained that his team closely monitored the polls, gathered results directly from the field, and discovered that some of the official results were allegedly altered.

Lawal, a consistent critic of the current administration, maintained that the outcome declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not reflect the true will of Nigerians.

Akpabio not hospitalised, hale and hearty in London – Gbenga Daniel

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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), has dismissed media reports claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been hospitalised in an undisclosed London hospital.

Daniel, who made a stopover in London, said he met with Akpabio to formally inform him of his planned return to Nigeria to participate in the August 16 bye-election for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency seat. The seat became vacant following the death of the former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adewumi Onanuga.

Addressing Akpabio, the former Ogun State governor said: “Your Excellency, the news out there is that you have been indisposed, but seeing you here now paints a very different picture. Congratulations, Your Excellency.”

Read Also: Akpabio denies sexual harassment allegations by Natasha

In a statement issued by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate President thanked Daniel for the visit and expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would retain the constituency seat.

“With the commitments and support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, your good self, and other stakeholders of our party in the state, we will retain the House of Representatives seat at the end of the election,” Akpabio said.

He further congratulated Daniel in advance, stating that his deep political roots in the area, coupled with the governor’s backing, made victory certain.

On rumours about his health, Akpabio dismissed them as baseless, saying:

“If you listen to the social media, you will go to war.”

I have no regrets working against Jonathan in 2015 – Amaechi

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Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he has no regrets over his role in the removal of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, describing it as a necessary step to “save Nigeria” at the time.

Speaking on Friday during an X Space session titled Weekend Politics, Amaechi dismissed speculations about Jonathan’s possible return in the 2027 presidential race, arguing the former leader has little to offer beyond a single term.

“I don’t regret removing GEJ. In fact, I should be praised for saving Nigeria then, just like I am trying to save Nigeria now.

“I heard he wants to run again. What does he bring to the table aside from having only four years to serve?” Amaechi stated.

He also revealed that he and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, conceived the idea of the coalition that eventually led to Jonathan’s defeat.

Audu Ogbeh was one of PDP’s most effective Chairmen – James Ibori

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Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, has paid tribute to the late Audu Ogbeh, describing him as one of the most effective national chairmen in the history of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ogbeh, who also served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, died on Saturday at the age of 78.

In a heartfelt statement, Ibori praised the late politician as a humble and principled leader who placed integrity and internal democracy above personal gain.

Read Also: Nigeria has lost a patriot in Audu Ogbeh — Tinubu

Reflecting on their political journey, Ibori recalled that during his re-election bid in 2003, Ogbeh was reportedly instructed to block his candidacy. However, Ogbeh refused to comply, dismissing the directive as “devilish machinations.” Ibori went on to contest and win, completing his second term as Delta governor in 2007.

“I received with great sadness the news of the death of Chief Audu Ogbeh, former National Chairman of the PDP and ex-Minister of Agriculture,” Ibori said. “He was one of the most effective chairmen the PDP ever produced. He was not about money or bribes; he upheld internal democracy and was a man of integrity.”

Ogbeh’s passing has drawn tributes from across Nigeria’s political landscape, with many hailing his contributions to governance and party leadership.

Alia expresses regret over Audu Ogbeh’s death 

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Gov. Hyacinth Alia, has mourned a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Chief Audu Ogbeh, who died on Saturday at the age of 78.

Alia, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, in Makurdi on Saturday, said that he received the news of Ogbeh’s death with deep regret.

The governor also said that he was saddened over the death of the elder statesman and former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said Ogbeh, a one time Deputy Speaker of Venue House of Assembly, lived a successful and fulfilled life, and was greatly respected and admired by many.

According to Alia, the late elder statesman’s  legacies will always be remembered.

He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and his immediate family, the Idoma nation, the entire people of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole the fortitude to bear the loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogbeh, who, at different times, served as Minister of Communications as well as Steel Development, was also a farmer and playwright during his lifetime.

Read Also: Audu Ogbeh served Nigeria with integrity, commitment – Northern Governors

Ogbeh joined politics at a relatively young age and was elected into Benue House of Assembly on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979, where he served as deputy speaker.

Meanwhile , the governor has also commiserated with the Ishoribo family over the death of the Executive Secretary of Benue Examinations Board, Ade Ishoribo.

He described the late executive secretary as a gentleman whose impact at the board had started yielding result, adding that it was unfortunate that death had cut short his work at the organisation.

The governor prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and his immediate family, staff members of the board, the people of Guma Local Government Area and Benue at large the solace to bear the loss.

NAN reports that the governor had already sent a delegation to extend the sympathies of the government and people of the state to the deceased’s family.

(NAN)

Audu Ogbeh served Nigeria with integrity, commitment – Northern Governors

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Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has described former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who died on Saturday as an accomplished leader, a seasoned politician and multifaceted scholar whose contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey and development will remain etched in history.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe, Inuwa Yahaya, stated this in a condolence message issued by his Media Aide, Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, on Saturday in Gombe.

Yahaya described Ogbeh as a towering political figure, a statesman of uncommon intellect and an iconic son of Northern Nigeria.

He said that the late ex-minister devoted his life to national development and public service.

“Chief Audu Ogbeh was an accomplished leader, a seasoned politician and multifaceted scholar whose contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey and development will remain etched in history.

Read Also: BREAKING: Former Agric Minister Audu Ogbeh dies at 78

“He brought dignity and depth to every office he held and served the country with integrity and commitment,” he said.

The NSGF chairman described Ogbeh’s death as a huge loss not only to Benue and the north, but also to the entire country.

expressed sadness over the demise of an elder statesman and , Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Ogbeh passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.

“As chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum, I join the government and people of Benue, the Ogbeh family and indeed the nation in mourning a truly remarkable Nigerian,” he said.

Yahaya said that the late former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader left behind a legacy of patriotism, intellectual depth, humility and outstanding public service.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the elder statesman and for strength and comfort to his family and loved ones during this period of grief.

(NAN)

Osun 2026: APC Chieftain Ojuade drums support for Omisore

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As the race to the governorship election in Osun gathers momentum, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Bukola Ojuade has called on the leadership and members of the party to support Sen. Iyiola Omisore’s governorship ambition.

Ojuade made the call at a news conference organised by Ojuade Support Group on Sunday in Ile-Ife.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Omisore, a former senator and one time deputy governor of Odun, has declared his interest in securing APC’s ticket for the August 2026 governorship election in the state.

Ojuade, at the News conference, appealed to members to give the party’s governorship ticket to Omisore, describing him as the most qualified among all the aspirant.

According to him, Omisore is the leader Osun needs at this critical time in its history.

“Sen. Omisore is not just a politician, he is an engineer by profession, a legislator by distinction and a strategist by instinct,” he remarked.

The APC chieftain stated that Omisore had served the country in various capacities, adding that as deputy governor, he brought infrastructural development to the fore.

Read Also: 2027: Enang urges Yilwatda to reposition APC

“As a senator, he championed bills and projects that directly benefited the people of Osun State. Also, as the immediate past National Secretary of APC, he helped build the party’s structures across Nigeria.

“He is a bridge between the old and the young. He is widely accepted across all senatorial zones.

“And let me say it clearly today, Sen. Iyiola Omisore is more than qualified—he is prepared, capable and ready to lead Osun into the future.

“His ambition to contest in the 2026 gubernatorial election is not just his—it is the hope of thousands across the 30 local government areas of Odun State,” he said.

According to Ojuade, the people of the state are yearning for competent, compassionate and visionary leadership.

“With Sen. Omisore at the forefront, we are preparing to bring Osun into a new era of responsive and responsible leadership.

“Omisore is the most popular among the contestants around now. APC should allow him to pick the ticket to lead the party.

“He cannot be ignored when discussing leadership, development and capacity,” he said.

Ojuade described APC as the party of the present and the future, stressing: “The tide is turning, and Osun State is coming back to the APC that understands governance, listens to its people and has the track record to prove it.”

He stated further that the people of Osun had seen the difference and that they were now ready and prepared to choose the path of experience rather than experimentation.

(NAN)