Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday dismissed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s prediction that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would lose the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during his monthly media chat, Wike described El-Rufai’s calculation as “flawed and wrong”, insisting that Tinubu would secure re-election. “El-Rufai is my friend, but he failed in this mathematics. He goofed; since he knows Tinubu will come third, he should also provide who will be first and second,” Wike said. “I will place a bet if El-Rufai agrees, if Tinubu doesn’t win the 2027 election securely.” El-Rufai, while…

The Federal Government has commended Finland following the conviction of Simon Ekpa, the self-styled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Government in Exile, who was on Monday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Päijät-Häme District Court for terrorism offences. In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a “watershed moment” for victims of violence in Nigeria’s South-East and a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between both countries. Idris said Ekpa’s activities had incited violence and fuelled terror across several communities, leading to loss of…

A civil society group championing good governance in Oyo State, the Concerned Youths Movement (CYM), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding an investigation into members of the Oyo State House of Assembly over the approval of a ₦300 billion loan for Governor Seyi Makinde. News of the Assembly’s approval surfaced last week and has since sparked widespread controversy. In a statement, Hon. Ibraheem Shittu, who represents Saki West State Constituency, confirmed that the lawmakers had indeed given the nod for the loan. However, CYM, in a communique signed by its Chairman, Pastor Tayo Adigun, and Secretary,…

A District Court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Government in Exile, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences. Ekpa, who has been a controversial figure in Nigeria’s South-East, was arrested on 21 November 2024 by Finnish authorities following a lengthy investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The probe centred on allegations that he used social media platforms to incite terrorism and promote violence, activities believed to have fuelled unrest across parts of south-eastern Nigeria. The Päijät-Häme District Court found him guilty of “public incitement to commit…

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly refuted claims made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that the Office of the NSA coordinated ransom payments and incentives to bandits. In a statement released on Monday and signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, Adviser in the Office of the NSA, Ribadu described El-Rufai’s comments as “baseless” and “contrary to verifiable facts.” El-Rufai, during a recent interview on Channels Television, had accused the NSA of adopting a policy that involved financially engaging with criminal groups, a statement that has since sparked widespread criticism. “The attention of the Office of the…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the one-term presidency pledge of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, calling it unrealistic and unconvincing to Nigerians. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai argued that no serious reforms or meaningful changes could be made within a single four-year term. He also urged politicians to stop making promises they cannot realistically fulfil. “On the question of people saying they will come out and do one term, I don’t think that anyone believes them and I don’t think that it’s right,” he said. Citing his experience as a…

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full enforcement of his executive order aimed at reducing the prices of essential medical consumables across Nigeria. Oyintiloye, a member of the now-defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council and former lawmaker, made the appeal during an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital. The APC stalwart expressed concern that despite the President’s executive order issued in June 2024 — which sought to ease the financial burden on patients by reducing tariffs, excise duties, and…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra State governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, warning of serious political and constitutional repercussions. In a lengthy statement posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Keyamo claimed the opposition party remains in a “non-enviable position” due to its failure to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the South — a move he said cost the PDP substantial support in its traditional strongholds of the South-South and…

Bulk petroleum retailers in Port Harcourt have criticised the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, over his recent comments regarding the shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery. Ojulari had stated that the refinery was incurring losses of up to ₦500 million every month prior to the suspension of its rehabilitation works. He explained that although the refinery was processing about 50,000 barrels of crude, less than 40 per cent of the input was effectively refined. “When I resumed, one of the first priorities I focused on was the refinery. I did a…

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have sharply criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its declaration that the 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all members despite its endorsement of President Bola Tinubu. The ruling party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, had stated on Wednesday that the APC would not bar any aspirant interested in contesting against Tinubu for the presidency. “We will definitely not close our doors (to other presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the…