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Month: August 2025

Babachir Lawal Slams Tinubu Administration, Alleges Nepotism and Policy Failures

Fola Badmus02 mins

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying he would not have survived in the current cabinet and would have resigned if appointed. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Lawal said, “I thank God that I didn’t make the mistake of being in this government ab initio. If I were in this government, I probably would have been sacked a long time ago, killed or resigned.” Lawal accused the Tinubu government of nepotism, alleging that most key positions were dominated by individuals from the Yoruba ethnic group. “I cannot go to a meeting in which 99 per cent of the participants are Yoruba. The tendency is that they finish the meeting in their language, and I am just sitting there,” he said. He recalled incidents during the 2023 campaign in which northern supporters of Tinubu were allegedly insulted, adding: “The problem with the Yoruba is that when you support them and they win, they behave as if they have subdued you.” The former APC member also faulted Tinubu’s economic policies, citing the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023. He claimed Nigerians had yet to see any benefits and alleged that the government was still secretly paying subsidy. On the 2023 presidential election, Lawal accused the APC of rigging the polls and insisted that Labour Party’s Peter Obi was the rightful winner.

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FG Disburses N5.12bn Pension Arrears to Over 90,000 Retirees

Fola Badmus01 mins

The Federal Government has disbursed N5.12 billion in pension arrears to 90,689 retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD). This was disclosed on Monday in Abuja by PTAD’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Olugbenga Ajayi, who confirmed that the payments had been concluded. According to Ajayi, the disbursement covers pensioners across the four pension departments as follows: Ajayi reiterated that the payments reflect the administration’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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Middle Belt Forum Backs Peter Obi’s One-Term Pledge, Obidient Movement Gains Ground in Ibadan

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has endorsed Labour Party’s 2027 presidential hopeful, Mr. Peter Obi, for pledging to serve only one term if elected, describing him as a man of integrity who can be trusted to honour his word. In a statement, MBF National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said the forum believes Obi’s track record shows he would keep his promise “to the letter” and not use it as a political ploy. “We believe Peter Obi is a man of honour and, if he wins, he will keep to his promises,” Pogu said. He stressed that term limits should ideally be decided by the constitution and the electorate, but maintained that the Middle Belt had confidence in Obi’s sincerity. Meanwhile, Obi’s support base, the Obidient Movement, is gaining momentum in Oyo State. At the weekend, members gathered for the Oyo State Obidient Conference themed “Going Forward 2027: A New Nigeria is Possible” at the Empowerment Centre, Ring Road, Ibadan. The event attracted party loyalists, political analysts, and grassroots organisers. Delivering the keynote address, Professor Francis Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan lamented Nigeria’s underperformance despite abundant talent. He described the nation as “a giant lying prostrate, trampled by dwarfs,” criticising poor governance, propaganda-driven politics, and lack of strategic thinking. “The first order of business is to restructure the mindset, because to win elections without it is to perpetuate the same failures,” he warned, urging the movement to adopt disciplined execution, integrity, and a focus on human development. Obidient Movement National Coordinator, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, dismissed rumours of Obi leaving the Labour Party, confirming his candidacy for 2027 on a single-term agenda. “If elected, he will provide Nigeria with a single term of purposeful leadership. Many problems can be resolved within one year if we focus on essential human development,” Yunusa said. Oyo State Coordinator and convener, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi, called the conference a unifying moment for members, urging them to remain committed to Obi’s vision for national transformation.

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EFCC Arrests Tambuwal Over Alleged Withdrawals of N189B

Fola Badmus01 mins

Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Abuja headquarters. Tambuwal is being quizzed over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion, reportedly in clear breach of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. It was reliably gathered that the former governor arrived at the EFCC office around 11:30 a.m., where he was ushered in to face a panel of interrogators over the alleged financial infractions. The controversial withdrawals, said to have been made during his tenure, are being described by investigators as a significant violation of financial regulations. As of press time, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. The development marks the latest in a series of high-profile corruption probes involving former public office holders.

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POLICE WELFARE: IGP TO DECORATE PROMOTED NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENTS – As Police Service Commission Conveys Approval

Tinted Glass Permit: NPF Extends Grace Period for Enforcement to October

Fola Badmus02 mins

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved a further extension of the grace period for the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit requirement for vehicles with tinted windows, with the new enforcement date now set for 2nd October, 2025. This decision follows a significant surge in applications via the official portal, reflecting heightened public compliance with the directive. In light of this, the Force considered it imperative to allow sufficient time for the meticulous scrutiny of applications to ensure that the permit is issued only to eligible and qualified individuals, in line with national security considerations. The extension will also provide room for the continued fine-tuning of verification processes, both digital and physical, to maintain the integrity of the permit system and prevent abuse. The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms that the authorized platform for the application remains https://possap.gov.ng and advises citizens to disregard any unofficial channels. Members of the public are further encouraged to report all forms of extortion, hidden charges, or unauthorized processing to the appropriate Police authorities, including via the dedicated hotline: 08147818871.

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Funerals held for five Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike on Gaza City media tent

Fola Badmus06 mins

Gaza City – August 11, 2025 – Hundreds of mourners gathered in Gaza City today for the funeral of five Al Jazeera journalists killed in what the network and rights groups are calling a deliberate targeted assassination by Israeli forces. The attack, which took place late Sunday night outside al-Shifa Hospital, also claimed the lives of two other people and injured at least three more journalists. The strike hit a media tent where reporters had been sheltering and working, according to Al Jazeera’s Hani al-Shaer, who said the attack occurred at around 11:35pm local time. Footage from the funeral showed grieving crowds carrying the bodies through the streets, chanting in tribute to the slain reporters, and holding “PRESS” flak jackets aloft. Those killed included: Two freelance journalists, Mohammed al-Khaldi and one unnamed reporter, were also killed in the strike. Relatives of al-Sharif, already in mourning after an earlier Israeli air strike in 2024 killed his father, carried his 15-month-old son Salah and 4-year-old daughter Sham during the funeral procession to Sheikh Radwan Cemetery. Israel admits killing but labels journalists as militantsThe Israeli military confirmed it carried out the strike, accusing al-Sharif of leading a Hamas cell – an allegation Al Jazeera and rights groups say is unfounded and part of a pattern of smearing Palestinian journalists posthumously. A deadly patternThis is the latest in a long list of targeted killings of Al Jazeera staff since the war began in October 2023. Previous victims include: Since the war began, nearly 270 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza – an average of 13 every month – making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in recorded history. Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), say Israel’s actions are creating a “news void” by wiping out the very reporters documenting the war’s impact. Condemnation and calls for accountabilityAl Jazeera condemned the killings as a “premeditated attack on press freedom.” RSF described al-Sharif as “the voice of the suffering Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza” and compared the attack to the killing of journalist Ismail al-Ghoul in 2024. Amnesty International called the killings a war crime and part of an Israeli strategy to “attack journalism itself by preventing the documentation of genocide.” The Palestinian mission to the UN accused Israel of systematically targeting reporters “to silence witnesses” to its military campaign. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s spokesperson called for a full investigation, stressing that journalists must be able to work without fear of being targeted. Ongoing blockade and humanitarian crisisThe killings come just days after Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly one million residents. Gaza remains under a total blockade, with all goods and people controlled by Israel. Since March 2, the siege has caused a starvation crisis, killing over 200 people – more than half of them children – in recent weeks. As one mourner said during the funeral: “They wanted to silence their voices, but the whole world will hear them now.”

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Mali Arrests Dozens of Soldiers Over Alleged Coup Plot

Mali Arrests Dozens of Soldiers Over Alleged Coup Plot

Fola Badmus03 mins

Dozens of Malian soldiers have been arrested over an alleged plot to overthrow the country’s military leadership, multiple sources have confirmed, amid growing political and security tensions. The arrests, which began several days ago and reportedly continued overnight, have raised fears of deepening divisions within the ruling junta. Authorities have not issued an official statement on the development. Initial reports claimed that Gen Abass Dembele, former governor of Mopti region, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women at the top ranks of Mali’s army, were among those detained. However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC he had just visited the general at home and confirmed “he was doing well.” According to AFP, citing military and junta-aligned transitional council sources, the detained soldiers — all members of the armed forces — allegedly planned to “overthrow the junta.” The number of arrests reported ranges from about 20 to 50. The alleged coup plot comes as Mali’s military government faces mounting political strain. Former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga are under pressure — Mara has been in detention since 1 August, accused of tarnishing the state’s image, while Maiga is facing judicial action over alleged embezzlement. In May, the junta dissolved all political parties after rare anti-government protests, a move critics say undermines reconciliation efforts. The military, led by Gen Assimi Goïta, seized power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, promising elections that never materialised. Last month, the transition period was extended by five years, allowing Goïta to remain in power until at least 2030. Despite citing insecurity as a key reason for taking power, jihadist attacks — ongoing since 2012 — have persisted and in some areas intensified. Mali, alongside Niger and Burkina Faso, has turned to Russian military support after cutting ties with France, but significant security improvements remain elusive.

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