Author: Olukayode Oke

With four days to the 2023 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. Atiku spoke while addressing members of the Rivers State chapter of PDP in Abuja following the suspension of his rally in the state. He explained that the rally in Rivers State was suspended to protect the lives of people. The PDP presidential candidate pledged to include women and youths in his recovery plan if elected. Atiku also assured stakeholders from the state of completing the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail project…

Three financial associations have assured that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks would do everything possible to ensure availability of the Naira to the general public. The associations are Chief Security Officers in Banks (CSOs), Committee of Heads of Operations of Banks (CHOBs) and Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), In a statement on Monday by Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, President, ACAMB, said the three bodies gave the assurance in a communique at the end of their tripartite meeting on Sunday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held in Lagos and…

Six people have died in an earthquake that struck the border region of Turkey and Syria, on Monday, just two weeks after a larger quake killed more than 47,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. The latest quake which was a magnitude of 6.4 happened near the southern Turkish city of Antakya and was felt in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, Reuters reported on Tuesday. It struck at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. A rescue team was seen climbing a ladder to gain access into one building where some people…

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, yesterday, declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were prepared to ensure a secured general election, starting this Saturday. He spoke after a meeting with military service chiefs and other security chiefs including the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of DSS, Director-General of NIA and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) ahead of the elections. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Irabor reassured Nigerians that the armed forces and other security agencies were ready to provide a safe and secure environment for the elections. He said the purpose of the meeting was to…

A group under the aegis of the 21st century youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience ( 21st CYNDAC ) has disassociated itself from the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state by the so called Reform Niger Delta Avengers ( RNDA ). According to the group, they believe in the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF led by former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, saying that the people of Niger Delt are not…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said a total of 1,574,301 polling units agents were nominated by the nation’s 18 registered political parties for the general election. A document released in the wee hours of Monday by the commission showed that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP has the highest number of polling units agents – 176,588.It is followed by the ruling All Progressives Congress APC with 176,233, New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP has 176,200 and Labour Party LP with 134,874. All the political parties also nominated a total 68,057 collation agents and 27 agents for the National Collation…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has reassured Nigerians and the international community of free, fair and credible elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the reassurance when he received Commonwealth Election Observer Mission to Nigeria, led by former South Africa President, Thabo Mbeki, at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday. ”INEC understands the enormous benefits of conducting credible elections, not just in Nigeria but the African continent. “Election in Nigeria is huge and we understand. As I said, the responsibility rests on our shoulders. We also understand the benefits of credible elections. It will not only bring peace and good…

Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni have not been included in Real Madrid’s Champions League squad that have travelled to face Liverpool on Tuesday. The LaLiga champions left for the United Kingdom with a depleted midfield, without two of Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice stars in the engine room. However, Luka Modric made the trip alongside Ernesto Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Mario Martin, Sergio Arribas and Dani Ceballos. Madrid came into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Osasuna, thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio. Liverpool have also found some form lately, recording 2-0 victories over Everton and…

Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, AKA Falz, has urged the youths to vote in Saturday presidential election Falz in a video on his Instagram page on Sunday, called on Nigerians not to make any excuse for not voting. According to him, it is time for the youths to decide their future. He said, “Oya election don come oooo this is my PVC, I’m sure you have yours and you are ready to vote. I don’t want to hear any of that rubbish that my vote will not count, so what’s the point of voting? “Oh God, please nobody should…

Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Founder, School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) ,says focus on policies that encourage gender equality and inclusion help in building progressive and resilient societies. Ezekwesili, also a former Vice-President of the World Bank, Africa Region, said this in a keynote address at the 2023 edition of the International Women’s Day Award Gala, on Saturday night, in Lagos. The gala was convened by the diplomatic missions and delegations of Australia, Congo, the European Union, France, Germany, the UK, U.S., UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria. Ezekwesili said that for many decades, the issue of women…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders not to let the people down, as the nation is at the threshold of another democratic transition of government with Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday February 25, and Governorship/States Houses of Assembly polls for March 11. In a communique signed by its President, Mustpha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, at the end of its Standing Committee in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital weekend, the umbrella of all editors in Nigeria said Nigerians desired that their votes would…

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai has claimed that what was approved by President Muhammadu was different from what the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, did regarding the redesigning and swapping of the currency. The Governor, who has vehemently kicked against the new monetary policy by the Buhari administration, tried to make some explanations in a statement he titled: ‘Nigeria Update: ABC of Currency Redesign vs. XYZ of Cash Confiscation Explained’, shared on Twitter, Sunday night. The Governor claimed that while the President approved the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1000 notes, the CBN only did recolouring. “Currency…