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Category: Politics

Buhari: I Left Office with the Same Assets I Had Before Becoming President

Buhari: I Left Office with the Same Assets I Had Before Becoming President

Fola Badmus03 mins

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated that he left office in 2023 with the same assets he possessed before assuming the presidency in 2015. His spokesman, Garba Shehu, confirmed that Buhari’s assets declaration form, submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), indicated no increase in movable assets, and he did not open new bank accounts outside his existing account with Union Bank in Kaduna. Additionally, Buhari neither took loans nor incurred liabilities during his tenure. The only change noted was a slight decrease in the number of animals on his farm, attributed to gifts given over the past four years. This declaration aligns with Buhari’s commitment to transparency and adherence to constitutional requirements for public officials to declare their assets before and after holding public office. The CCB acknowledged receipt of his asset declaration form, reinforcing the process’s integrity. Shehu emphasized that Buhari’s assets remained unchanged, highlighting his consistent lifestyle and financial stability throughout his presidency. In 2015, Buhari publicly declared his assets, which included five homes located in Daura, Kano, and Abuja, as well as two mud houses in his village. His assets also encompassed undeveloped plots of land in Kano and Port Harcourt, an orchard, a ranch with 270 cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, and various birds, and shares in three companies: Berger Paints, Union Bank, and Skye Bank. He also reported having less than N30 million in cash. Buhari’s consistent asset declarations and the reported stability of his wealth have sparked discussions about integrity and financial prudence among public officials. However, it’s important to note that while Buhari’s personal assets remained stable, his administration faced challenges with corruption among some appointees and associates. Despite these issues, Buhari’s personal financial conduct has been portrayed as exemplary, reflecting his purported commitment to a modest and transparent lifestyle. These developments underscore the complexities of governance in Nigeria, where personal integrity at the leadership level contrasts with broader systemic challenges. Buhari’s asset declarations provide insight into his personal financial practices, but they also invite scrutiny of the wider administrative and political environment during his administration.

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Labour Party Submits Supreme Court Judgement on Leadership to INEC

Fola Badmus01 mins

A high-level delegation of the Labour Party (LP), led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, on Wednesday visited the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to discuss key developments within the party. During the visit, Governor Otti formally presented a Certified True Copy of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the party’s leadership. He noted that the meeting was aimed at fostering clarity, mutual understanding, and institutional alignment regarding the LP’s current structure. The delegation was received by INEC’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Sam Olumekun, and other National Commissioners. Both parties engaged in discussions centered on enhancing collaboration and reinforcing democratic values. Mr. Olumekun reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.

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Supreme Court CTC Vindicates Abure Executive

Fola Badmus03 mins

The leadership of the Labour Party ably led by Barrister Julius Abure has been vindicated by the content of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgement between Nenadi Usman and the Labour Party. This is contained in a statement signed and made available, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, on Wednesday. “As promised earlier, we warned that Senator Nenadi Usman and her cohorts have been in the voyage of misleading Nigerians with wrong interpretation of the judgement of the apex court. (Attached is a copy of the CTC). “There is no where it stated that the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure led executive has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her National Caretaker Committee has been directed to take over the leadership of the Labour Party. “The Supreme Court emphatically stated that issues within the political party are internal affairs of the party and that party supremacy must be observed. “It is pertinent for us to state clearly that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The highest organ of the party, the national convention has in March 2024 elected its leaders in line with the constitution of the party and electoral act and their tenure is subsisting,” the statement reads. The Party also warned that any meeting convened in disregard to the constitution of the party is illegal and the outcome null and void. “We are therefore warning all those involved in the illegal meeting holding in Abuja to refrain from further factionalising the party and respect the constitution of the party as we will not fail to activate the provision of the party on disciplinary actions.”

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Ibas Appoints Administrators for 23 Rivers LGs

Fola Badmus03 mins

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. This comes less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly restrained him from appointing administrators to oversee the affairs of the local government councils. The order was issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity. However, Ibas also approved the constitution of some boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals which he had earlier suspended. The approval was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika. The statement said the appointments take immediate effect. Mr Okroiyobi Animete was appointed as administrator for Abua/Odual LG, Mr Goodluck M Iheanacho for Ahoada East LG, Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West LG, among others. The statement read, “His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. “He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended. “All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.” Recall that last week, the sole administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state with immediate effect. In a separate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state. He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period. The sole administrator, according to a previous statement also issued by the SSG, directed all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices to refund such fees to the respective contractors immediately.

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Tinubu Administration: Multiple Spokespersons, No Clear Communication

Tinubu Administration: Multiple Spokespersons, No Clear Communication

Fola Badmus015 mins

By Temidayo Akinsuyi There is no denying the fact that President Bola Tinubu has the highest number of media aides in the history of Nigeria, in the same manner his government boasts of the highest number of ministers. However, this cacophony of voices appears to be singing disjointed music, with the songs sounding fragmented, uneven or more like a ‘broken record’, like former Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, is wont to say. In June 2023, the president appointed Dele Alake, his former Commissioner of Information during his tenure as Lagos State Governor, as Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, making him the first media aide to the president. Soon after, he was named the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, a development sources claimed was orchestrated by a powerful cabal in the villa who do not want Alake to have direct access to the president as his chief spokesperson. Many Nigerians criticised Alake’s appointment as Solid Minerals minister because he has no expertise in the sector. However, he later clarified that the president decided to shock Nigerians by not appointing him to the information ministry, which he has a background in, but drafted him to the Solid Minerals ministry because of his sense of responsibility, expertise, and track record. Hear him: “My portfolio has been the upset of the entire cabinet because given my antecedents, exposure, and experience in the area of perception, information management, and the likes so most people have pigeonholed me for information, and so we decided to shock everybody. Now if you all can sit down to analyse the global trend of economic development, you would note that the hydrocarbon – that is, the oil is fading out and the world is moving towards alternatives like gas, electric cars, and the rest. So what is the next economic growth factor? It is solid mineral. Given the nature of this sector to our economic growth and vitality of this country which is dear to the heart of Mr President, it’s just very apt and proper for him to send me here because he knows and trusts that I have a demonstrable sense of responsibility and courage to drive the agenda; that is why I am here. We are going to drive that agenda with the full cooperation of everyone.” Two years down the line, whether Alake’s impact has been felt in the Solid Affairs Ministry is left for Nigerians to decide. In July 2023, the president appointed Ajuri Ngelale as his special adviser on media and publicity. In October of the same year, he also appointed Bayo Onanuga, a veteran journalist and one of his close allies, as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. As sources in the villa have confirmed, the young but cocky Ngelale, who added the prefix ‘Chief’ to his name, saw Onanuga as a ‘rival wife who had come to share the same husband with him’ while forgetting that while he was working as a media aide to former President Buhari, it was the likes of Onanuga who were receiving social media bullets for the president and following him everywhere during the electioneering campaign. Ngelale, who went into oblivion after he was technically eased out, crawled out of the hole last week to wish the president, whom he described as ‘his father’, a happy 73rd birthday. Like the Yorubas will say, ‘Baba egbe mo oye omo to bi (The father knows the number of his children). In August, the president also named Muhammed Idris as Minister of Information and National Orientation. Despite occupying such a visible portfolio, the highly reticent Idris, unfortunately, is one of the unknown ministers in the president’s cabinet. Unlike his predecessor, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ask many Nigerians who Nigeria’s current Minister of Information is, and I can bet a lot of people won’t know. Aside Onanuga, other members of the president’s media team are Daniel Bwala (Special Adviser, Policy Communication); Sunday Dare ( Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications); Tunde Rahman (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Media); Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Print Media); O’tega Ogra – (Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media); Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs); Segun Dada (Special Assistant — Social Media); Nosa Asemota – Special Assistant (Visual Communication); Mr Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement); Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications) and Mr Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs). With all these people managing the public image and media affairs of the president, one then begins to wonder why there is still a huge disconnect between the government and Nigerians. Aside from Onanuga, the head of the Media and Publicity Directorate who has been doing a yeoman’s job so far, who else can one pinpoint as speaking for the president?. I can’t remember Tunde Rahman granting any interview as a presidential spokesperson; the last time I read about him, he represented the president at the Service of Songs organised for the late Doyin Okupe in Lagos. When Daniel Bwala was appointed as special adviser on media and public communications to the president, he claimed he was the official spokesperson to President Tinubu; the presidency issued a statement that the president has no individual spokesperson but all three special advisers – Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare and Daniel Bwala – will “collectively serve as spokespersons for the government”. How can you have three special advisers jointly speaking for one president who claims he has implemented the Oronsaye report aimed at cutting the cost of governance? What will Sunday Dare or Bwala say that Onanuga alone can’t say? Since his redesignation, Bwala, an erudite lawyer, has been trying his best to communicate the policies and reforms of the president to Nigerians. However, many Nigerians hardly take what he says with a pinch of salt, given his antecedents and previous negative remarks about the…

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Akpabio To Natasha, Abbo: Apologize And Compensate Me Or Face Legal Action

Akpabio To Natasha, Abbo: Apologise And Compensate Me Or Face Legal Action

Fola Badmus05 mins

The Senator President Godswill Akpabio has condemned the unfounded, false, and inflammatory claims made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for being involved in a plot to assassinate her. During a public statement in Kogi State on April 1, 2025, the suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recklessly and maliciously alleged that Senator Akpabio had “recruited” former Governor Yahaya Bello to “assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja.” These allegations are not only completely false but are also a dangerous and irresponsible attempt to stir public unrest, attract media attention, and discredit the Senate President for personal motives. “It is important to note that this same individual had previously made an unsubstantiated accusation of sexual harassment against Senator Akpabio, a claim which she later abandoned without explanation. After this narrative failed to gain traction, she has escalated her campaign of misinformation to a more sinister level with these false assassination claims. “This pattern of deliberate falsehoods and manipulative tactics highlights her apparent willingness to exploit public sensitivities through recurring victimhood stories. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has previously made similar assassination accusations against former Governor Yahaya Bello and others in 2019 and 2023, alongside multiple unfounded sexual harassment allegations. This consistent campaign to tarnish reputations through baseless allegations must not be allowed to succeed. “Additionally, just 24 hours after these accusations, former Senator Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously retracted claim, accusing Senator Akpabio of “manipulating the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate. Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo publicly apologized in 2023 after retracting these claims, acknowledging they were based on incorrect assumptions. His removal was the result of a constitutionally sound judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which ruled he was not properly elected to represent Adamawa North,” the statement read. Senator Abbo also falsely claimed he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This allegation is categorically untrue, as salaries and allowances are processed through strict administrative and legal procedures, and the Senate President does not have the power to unilaterally approve or deny such requests. “The timing and similarity of these coordinated attacks point to a politically motivated smear campaign. These individuals, likely supported by undisclosed interests, appear determined to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership to distract from their own political shortcomings and failures. “Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a committed statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric. “Legal action, including formal letters of demand seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational damage, will soon be served to both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr. Elisha Abbo. “We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives. Under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, the Senate remains focused on its constitutional duties: promoting legislative excellence, safeguarding democratic values, and driving meaningful progress for Nigeria.”

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Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Steps Down as Tinubu’s Political Adviser

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Steps Down As Tinubu’s Political Adviser

Fola Badmus07 mins

Impeccable sources in the presidency confirmed yesterday that the former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) tendered his resignation about two weeks ago. The sources said Dr. Baba-Ahmed did not provide details of the reasons for his decision, only stating that it was on personal grounds. However, as of the time of filing this report, it was unclear whether the presidency had accepted his resignation. Baba-Ahmed was appointed Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima in September 2023. Over the past 17 months, he has represented the presidency at several public fora, including a recent national conference themed: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity”, which held from 28th to 29th January, 2025 in Abuja. Clash with Matawalle over NEF Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s role in the presidency drew criticism at certain points. A notable criticism came from the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle. In April 2024, Matawalle appeared to have taken an aim at Dr. Baba-Ahmed, when he said northern appointees must not remain silent in the face of intimidation or misrepresentation of the Tinubu administration. His remarks came after Baba-Ahmed criticised Matawalle’s dismissal of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) as a “political paperweight”. That position by the minister was in reaction to the group’s statement that the North had made a mistake voting for Tinubu in 2023. Baba-Ahmed had argued that the Tinubu administration would have been better served if Matawalle had highlighted his own achievements as a minister—along with those of other northern appointees—rather than attacking the NEF. “Scathing criticism of NEF by the junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this administration if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North,” Baba-Ahmed wrote. Matawalle fired back, insisting that government appointees had a duty to defend and promote the administration they served. “Dr Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is well known,” Matawalle said, adding that: “As an appointee of this administration, it is his responsibility to work for its success, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons”. The minister stressed further that: “Every appointee of President Tinubu, including Dr. Baba-Ahmed, owes the government a duty to promote, elucidate, and advance its good works and commendable efforts across all sectors. “As appointees from the North, we must take a stand, be unequivocal, and be counted among those working for the success of this administration. This is not the time to keep quiet in the face of intimidation and misrepresentation of the efforts and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the junior minister maintained. Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed at a glance Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed (born September 11, 1955) is a Nigerian retired senior civil servant and former Chief of Staff to ex-Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. He hails from Kaduna State. A practising Muslim, he has held several key positions in public service and governance. Baba-Ahmed studied at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the London School of Economics, and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. He began his career as a lecturer at the then University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) before joining the Kaduna State Civil Service. He later transferred to the Federal Civil Service, where he rose to the rank of Permanent Secretary. During his career, Baba-Ahmed served as Permanent Secretary in various capacities, including in the Presidency and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He also held the position of Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). A reform-minded public servant, he also served as Secretary to the Kaduna State Government. His contributions to governance earned him the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). Baba-Ahmed is regarded as an elder statesman in Northern Nigeria. Before his appointment as Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President in the Office of the Vice President, he was the Director of Publicity and Advocacy for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), where he spoke openly against policies that were perceived to be against the interests of the North, and of the various parts of Nigeria.

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Court Bars Interviews in Natasha’s Case Against Akpabio

Fola Badmus03 mins

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a directive barring all parties involved in the ongoing lawsuit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three other defendants from granting press interviews or making public statements regarding the subject matter of the case. The ruling, delivered on Friday, came in response to a complaint by Akpabio’s legal counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who raised concerns that the plaintiff, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, had been actively granting interviews to various television stations. These interviews focused on the details of her case, which is currently before the court, and were seen as potentially influencing public perception of the legal proceedings. In her decision, Justice Nyako emphasized the importance of ensuring that the case proceeds without undue external interference. She stated that no party, nor their lawyers, should engage in public discussions or give interviews regarding the ongoing case, in order to maintain the integrity of the judicial process. The ruling reflects the court’s commitment to preventing any actions that could prejudice the case or undermine the fairness of the trial. This injunction aims to safeguard the legal process from being influenced by public opinion or media portrayal, ensuring that the case is decided based solely on the facts and legal arguments presented in court. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is not swayed by outside factors. The decision has drawn attention to the potential impact of media coverage on high-profile cases and reinforces the principle that court matters should be determined in the courtroom, not in the court of public opinion. As the case continues, it remains to be seen how this ruling will affect the strategies of the parties involved.

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