President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following a work leave abroad.
Tinubu departed for the United Kingdom on October 2, 2024, for a two-week working leave. He later left the UK for France on Friday, October 11, for “another important engagement,” his Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, revealed in a tweet.
Influential leaders from the North have begun efforts to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race. This development poses a significant challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election with discontent about his leadership growing by the day.
A North East state governor and a retired General from the North West are spearheading the initiative, Sources have revealed.
They cite the 1999 Constitution, which allows a maximum of eight years of four years each for presidents, making Jonathan a great choice given that he is eligible for only one term of four years haven previously served a term as president.
Jonathan’s experience and leadership skills, as well as his goodwill across the South, make him an attractive candidate to northern leaders. His potential to garner support in 17 states is seen as a significant advantage.
Recall that in August, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed his support for Jonathan. He said that he would step down his own presidential aspirations and back Jonathan “with his blood” if he decides to run.
He had said, “With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition.
“I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan.
“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country unless he decides not to run.
“If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.
“He will do a better job because he has the experience. We know the prices of things; we know the level of inflation.
“During Jonathan’s regime, he was inclusive, addressing issues like the Almajiri system and creating initiatives for unemployed youths.
“His leadership recruitment was exemplary. We need leaders like him—young people with energy, foresight, and drive,” he said.
According to Tribune Newspaper, the Jonathan-for-2027 project has gained momentum, with intense lobbying of critical stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones. Civil and pro-democracy bodies, as well as pressure groups, are being courted to support the initiative.
However, not everyone is convinced. A counter-group comprising governors and influential politicians is rooting for another southern politician to take the top job. Both groups are united in their opposition to Tinubu’s re-election.
It can be recalled that similar attempts were made to drag Jonathan into the contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner prior to the 2023 election. However, his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, maintained that Jonathan did not authorize the purchase of nomination forms for the contest.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Dr Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 presidential election, we wish to state that he has not in any way committed himself to this request.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it,” Eze stated.
Following an alleged ‘illicit affair’ with a married woman in an uncompleted building, the Jigawa State Government has announced the immediate suspension of Auwalu Sankara, the State Commissioner For Special Duties.
“Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi, has approved the immediate suspension of Auwalu Dalladi Sankara as Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and member of the State Executive Council pending an investigation into allegations made by the Kano State Hisbah,” the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Bala Ibrahim, said in a statement on Saturday.
The SSG said the decision was informed by a need for thorough investigation into the allegation, to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the state administration.
He emphasized the Governor Namadi’s commitment to accountability and adherence to ethical standards in governance.
“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation.
“We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government,” the statement stressed.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has, in a fresh remark aimed at the country, said Nigeria is a “burial ground of policies.”
Obasanjo made the comment during the 8th Engr Brig Gen (rtd) Micheal Agu Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Space Centre in Abuja.
The lecture and awards with the theme “Nigeria’s 21 years in space 2003-2024: Achievements, challenges, and prospects” were organised by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers.
“It is not enough for leaders to have policies or make statements,” Obasanjo said. “We are not short of policies in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigeria has become a burial ground of policies that are either unimplemented or unexecuted.”
The former President said that meaningful progress requires concrete actions, not just policy statements.
“Those who make progress achieve progress not on the basis of wishing to make progress, but on taking actions,” Obasanjo noted. “They do not take two steps forward and three steps backwards. Regrettably, this is what we are doing in every aspect of our national life.”
It can be recalled that during his administration, Obasanjo established the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The former Nigerian leader said he invested in training Nigerian engineers with over 100 of them sent to China for training in various categories and specializations.
Obasanjo went further to say that the plan was to launch three satellites: one built by China, one in collaboration with China, and a third entirely designed and built by Nigeria. However, he regretted that progress was stalled after he left office, with NASRDA reportedly struggling to pay its workers at some point.
Nigeria’s national grid has collapsed again.
This is the third time this will happen in just one week.
The latest collapse occurred early Saturday morning, with many states reporting total blackouts.
Leading reporters obtained data from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal (niggrid.org) and it revealed that the grid recorded zero megawatts (MW) as of 9.20am today.
This latest failure comes on the heels of two other collapses earlier in the week, further straining the already fragile power system.
Businesses and households continue to suffer over the nation’s unreliable electricity supply amid the high cost and unavailability of fuel.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested journalist Edna Ulaeto of OrderPaper during a raid on her home on Friday.
According to a statement by OrderPaper management, the DSS officers, armed and masked, stormed Ms Ulaeto’s residence, mistreating her and taking her to an undisclosed location.
The statement revealed that neighbours who attempted to intervene or document the event were pushed aside, with some being forced to delete their photos and videos under threat of arrest.
“The young lady, still dressed in her casual nightwear, was violently manhandled and forcibly taken away to an unknown destination, leaving her family and neighbours in shock and fear,” the statement said.
OrderPaper claimed that Ms Ulaeto’s phone number had been unlawfully tracked, and her arrest is reportedly linked to a recent article that mistakenly reported a DSS operation at the National Assembly. The article alleged that the operation aimed to prevent the removal of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Despite the newspaper’s retraction and public apology, the newspaper said the DSS proceeded with the arrest, leaving Ms Ulaeto’s family and colleagues in shock and fear.
The organization has called on civil society and the international community to demand Ms Ulaeto’s immediate release and condemn the action as an attack on press freedom and human rights.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed grief over the death of Mr. Elijah Olaluyi, a New Telegraph photojournalist covering the activities of the House.
Speaker Abbas, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, also mourned the death of a reporter with Liberty Radio and Television, Mohammed Adamu, who covered the Senate.
Olaluyi died on Thursday evening, while Adamu, an experienced reporter, died in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Speaker, while condoling the families of Olaluyi and Adamu, extended his condolences to the media outfits they represented and the House and Senate Press Corps over the passing away of their members.
“These were veteran media men who covered the National Assembly for years and had institutional memories of people and events at the federal parliament.
“They will be greatly missed. My heart is with their families and the Press Corps at the moment of grief,” Speaker Abbas said.
The Speaker prayed for the repose of their souls and the fortitude to bear the loss by their respective families.
The odyssey foundation has trained teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the use of Artificial intelligence tools to enhance their teaching skills while building stability and resilience in their work.
The foundation stated that the software introduced to the teachers will teaching and writing lesson notes more easier for them either in hard copy or soft copy format.
Tech women alumni and Founder Odyssey foundation Stella Dennis, while speaking at the training for over 30 teachers in the FCT stated that AI training, is an all inclusive training emphasizing that teaching is not just coming and writing on the board, but about mentoring, understanding the children, looking at
their temperament and a host of others.
“Talking about the use of AI is quite interesting. When you look at the population of students in schools today, I think you just reminded private schools as an opportunity.
“The path of AI we talk today is how a teacher can prepare his lesson notes in one second. And not for you to think or take two hours while you’re trying
to write a lesson note.
She noted that the efficiency of the AI tools is apt as teachers while engaging in social media activities can also get information on the Al teaching tools, save them and use it in the classroom as teaching aid for the students.
One of the beneficiaries of the training, a teacher from Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Mrs Lawal Bimbo expressed delight on the new teaching aid using AI tool adding that they have seen a very simplified way to enhance their teaching skills.
“I’ve learned a lot. We started with 3D
modeling. And we’re told even how to model, how to be able to create models, to be able to make
our class physical for our children to touch, feel, and whatever we are teaching them.
You know, we still have a long way to go in getting these three modelings to work.
“We’re having the AI training, telling us what’s our
GPT. We learned Microsoft. A lot of apps we’ve downloaded today. And even how to write our lesson plans, which is the most difficult part for every teacher, writing lesson plans.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Lawal noted that teachers should be up and doing while sacrificing their time and data to engage more on AI teaching tools instead of waiting for school authority or government to assist them.
“We have even got to know that
while we are doing this, we can also showcase whatever we’re doing, which can in turn
come as reward for us. So we have to sacrifice first, the school management itself, because when you wait for governments to do everything, then nothing is done.
“So, example, using the AI to teach and all of that, is what a teacher can sacrifice. We us a lot of data on social medias, Instagram. We can also use part of this data to make our lesson notes, to be able to teach our students well and for them to understand well.”
Jigawa Commissioner of Special Duties, Auwal Danladi Sankara, has been arrested and detained by the Kano State Hisbah Board for allegedly engaging in an extramarital affair with a married woman, Tasleem Baba Nabegu.
The commissioner was caught red-handed with Nabegu in an uncompleted building owned by him.
According to Hisbah Director General, Abba Sufi, Sankara’s arrest followed a series of complaints from Nabegu’s husband’s younger brother, alleging the commissioner’s involvement in nefarious activities.
“Yes, it is true we have arrested Auwal Danladi Sankara, the Jigawa Commissioner, with a married woman in an uncompleted building that belongs to him.
“Unknown to him, we were tracking him based on reports we received against him,” Sufi said.
Nasiru Bulama, Nabegu’s husband, had filed a complaint accusing Sankara of engaging in an illicit affair with his wife, the mother of his two children.
According to the Hisbah boss, Bulama reported the incident to the Kano State Police Command, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Hisbah Board.
“Nasiru Bulama filed the complaint with the Kano State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Hisbah Board, alleging Sankara’s involvement in illicit sexual activities with his wife,” the official added.
Sankara will face prosecution on Monday for multiple cases, including engaging in an extramarital affair with a married woman, operating illicit drug centres (with names Picklock, 360 and three other areas) disguised as hotels as well as promoting prostitution and drug addiction.
The Rivers State Government has approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants in the state.
The Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke, announced that the approval was granted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a closed-door meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials.
Following the meeting, Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new minimum wage will take effect immediately.
On their part, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta praised Governor Fubara for meeting the expectations of Rivers State workers.
He expressed appreciation for the Governor’s commitment to the workforce.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, noted that the minimum wage will greatly alleviate the economic hardships faced by workers in the state.
More to follow……
