Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized the 2023 New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as insignificant in Nigeria’s political landscape.

PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba stated that Kwankwaso is struggling to lead the NNPP, which only controls Kano State in Nigeria.

Kwankwaso had previously claimed that the PDP is dead, stating that he and his supporters left the party because it had become irrelevant. He made this statement while speaking in Kano, saying, “I wish to remind you that PDP is dead because we left the party. Since they have gone out of the line, we decided to check out.”

In response, Ologunagba criticized Kwankwaso’s self-centeredness, saying it shows he lacks leadership qualities. Ologunagba stated, “Our reaction to the statement credited to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is that he is very inconsequential in the Nigerian national politics today.”

Ologunagba further emphasized the PDP’s strong presence in Nigeria, highlighting its 13 governors, numerous Senators, House of Representatives members, state assembly control, and local government area and ward presence. He found it unfathomable that Kwankwaso, with only one state, would claim the PDP is dead.

Ologunagba concluded by saying, “More disturbing is that Sen. Kwankwaso has exhibited extreme selfishness and self-centeredness, which shows that he is not a leader.”

Armed soldiers in their numbers and gunboats have reportedly stormed Okuama town in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State early Monday morning, shooting at anything in sight.

A man from the community who spoke to reporters while hiding in the bush said the military personnel came on land through Okoloba community after using drones to monitor the community on Sunday.

According to the eye witness, “As I speak, soldiers and some youths have stormed our community, shooting at anything in sight. They parked their boats at Okoloba and came on foot. The small tents we have built are being razed.

“Everyone is in disarray; I can’t find my child; why are we being treated in this manner?

“Why will soldiers team up with our enemies to attack us? Our leaders were arrested weeks ago, and now they have come to sack the community,” he said.

The source could not immediately explain what has led to the latest invasion.

Former United States President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are preparing to face-off in their first presidential debate, with the election less than two months away.

The debate will take place at 9pm US Eastern Time on September 10 (01:00 GMT on Wednesday) at the National Constitution Center (NCC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is set to last 90 minutes.

Tuesday’s debate will be the first time Trump and Harris — the candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively — will share a stage. The two have never met in person.

Trump was originally expected to face President Joe Biden at Tuesday’s event. But after an initial debate in June, Biden quit the race amid pressure over his stumbling performance and advanced age.

The Democratic Party has since rallied around Harris, naming her its nominee for the presidency.

With Biden’s decision to end his campaign upending the dynamics of the race, Harris and Trump will use the debate to build momentum as the campaign enters its final stretch.

While a list of questions has not been released, a number of issues have dominated the race so far.

They include the economy, immigration, abortion, Trump’s refusal to acknowledge his loss in the 2020 election and foreign policy, particularly with wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza.

Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson for Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, has denied rumors of merger talks with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This comes after PDP’s Deputy National spokesman, Ibrahim Abdullahi, claimed that the three leading opposition figures in Nigeria were discussing a possible merger to address hunger and insecurity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Abdullahi’s statement was reiterated by Atiku Abubakar’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, who emphasized Atiku’s consistent call for an opposition alliance. Ibe stated that Nigeria is “on life support” under the current administration, with widespread hunger and failed policies.

However, Yunusa Tanko dismissed the merger claims of LP and PDP, saying Peter Obi is focused on consolidating his political base. He attributed the renewed talk of a merger to the beginning of political permutations for the 2027 presidential election, where the stakes are high.

Yunusa emphasized that the Obi campaign is prioritizing building a nationwide structure, learning from past mistakes. He stated, “We want to have the bulk of our people everywhere… We depended on some persons who failed us, but now we want to have our people.”

Yunusa highlighted the strength of the Obidient Movement, which transcends political parties and attracts anyone interested in good governance. He reiterated that the movement’s sole agenda is to combat bad governance, saying, “We don’t have any agenda apart from that.”

Elizabth Uruakpa, a 66-year-old Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, was abducted by unknown gunmen on Thursday evening in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.

The abduction occurred around 7 pm when Uruakpa was returning from an evening church service. The attackers ambushed her at the entrance of her home, located near the new Ilisan market.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen forcibly removed Uruakpa from her vehicle and whisked her away in a red Toyota car. The incident caused panic in the neighborhood, prompting residents and business owners to quickly shut their doors in fear.

A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Uruakpa as a senior nursing staff and a member of the Winners’ Chapel. “She was dragged down from her vehicle, put in their red Toyota car, and sped away. It was really like thunder and lightning, and such a thing had never happened before in our neighborhood.”

Babcock University’s Director of Communication and Marketing, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, confirmed the abduction. He stated that the university is actively seeking more information about the incident, and a comprehensive report will be provided as soon as possible.

Renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Aliyu Ibrahim, has expressed his dismay over the current economic situation in Nigeria, triggered by the recent increase in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

Recall that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced a fuel price hike from N617 per litre to N897 on Tuesday, causing widespread chaos across the country. The increase has led to a surge in transportation fares and prices of goods and services.

In a viral video, Sheikh Ibrahim vehemently criticized the price hike, describing it as “total madness”. He questioned the wisdom of the advisors who recommended the increase to President Bola Tinubu.

Sheikh Ibrahim further stated that the fuel price hike would have severe political consequences for President Tinubu, predicting that it would cost him his re-election bid in 2027. He emphasized that no reasonable person would support the re-election of a leader who oversaw such a drastic price increase, from N180 to N1,000 per litre.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a new mobile app and the National Crash Reporting Information System to enhance road safety and address road traffic crashes in Nigeria.

At the launch event in Abuja on Thursday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, praised the initiative as a significant milestone for the FRSC, reflecting the ongoing digital transformation efforts to improve road safety management.

Akume emphasized that the new tools aim to raise awareness among drivers and passengers about road safety and the causes of accidents, citing alarming statistics on road traffic crashes in Nigeria. He noted that between January and December 2023, road traffic crashes claimed the lives of 5,081 Nigerians, with 31,874 injured during the same period.

Furthermore, Akume highlighted that between January and July 2024, 2,776 people were killed and 16,309 injured due to road traffic crashes, emphasizing the need for concern and urgent action from both government and non-governmental stakeholders to reduce these figures.

Akume expressed hope that the new tools would strengthen the commitment of vehicle users and traffic law enforcement officers to contribute positively to road safety issues, ultimately reducing the number of road traffic crashes and their devastating consequences.

The former minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, has been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Reports had it that Ngige was questioned over his role in some contracts and jobs racketeering which allegedly happened during his tenure at the ministry.

According to the report, he was at the commission to answer questions concerning the awarding of contracts in Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

While it was gathered that Ngige was invited when he was away in the United States for medical check-ups, sources within the ICPC said the commission wanted him to shed more light on the award and abandonment of multi-million naira electronic NSITF.

Ngige had during his time gotten approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under former President Muhammadu Buhari for the e-NSITF.

The source said, “Yes, our detectives had interaction with him. We had since invited him in line with our SOP but he told us he was outside the country.

“So, we had to give him some time to finish what he went to do in the US. So, he honoured our invitation yesterday (Wednesday),” the source said.

However, an associate of Ngige who spoke on the matter debunked earlier claims that the former minister was arrested by the ICPC.

Rather he noted that Ngige was invited by the commission which he honoured and has since left the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja after providing them with the needed information.

Ngige’s associate said, “He wasn’t arrested by anyone; he went on his own, made clarification based on submissions made by staff over ministerial/presidential approval of some issues and he left immediately after that.”

The National Economic Council (NEC) has set a deadline of September 9, 2024, for all states to declare their stance on the establishment of State Police. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.

Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealing that 32 states have already made submissions to NEC, while four states have yet to do so.

NEC has directed the remaining four states to make their position known by Monday, September 9.

Lawal emphasized that any state that fails to make a submission by the deadline will be bound by the ultimate decision reached by NEC.

The call for state police has gained momentum in recent years, with leaders and socio-political groups like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo advocating for it as a solution to curb kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes.

In mid-February 2024, President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors agreed on the establishment of state police to address the escalating security challenges in the country. Following this agreement, 16 governors submitted their reports to NEC, expressing support for state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to accommodate it.

Since then, more states have declared their support for state police, leaving only four states yet to make their position known. However, the proposal has faced criticism from some quarters, with concerns about funding and the potential for state governors to misuse state police for political vendettas.