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VP Shettima Begins Two-Week Leave

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commenced a two-week leave, his first since being sworn into office, following the approval by President Bola Tinubu.

 

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, (Office of The Vice President) stated that during the period, the Vice President will devote time to study, reflection and intellectual renewal as part of efforts to strengthen his capacity for continued service to the nation.

 

“The leave offers Senator Shettima an opportunity to review the administration’s ongoing programmes, deepen his understanding of emerging national and global policy issues, and prepare for the responsibilities ahead as the Federal Government intensifies the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

“Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the Vice President has remained actively engaged in the coordination and supervision of several strategic government initiatives, particularly in economic development, food security, humanitarian affairs, digital transformation, job creation and regional cooperation.

 

“He has also chaired the National Economic Council, which brings together the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant public officials to deliberate on policies affecting the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.

 

“Beyond his responsibilities within the country, Vice President Shettima has represented President Tinubu at major international and regional engagements, advancing Nigeria’s position on economic integration, peace and security, climate action, investment and sustainable development.

 

“Senator Shettima remains deeply committed to the ideals of loyalty, duty and service that have defined his role in the administration, as well as to supporting President Tinubu’s efforts to build a more secure, productive and prosperous Nigeria.

 

“The Vice President will return to office at the end of the two-week leave period and resume his official responsibilities with renewed energy and dedication to the service of the nation.”

Freezing Osun’s Account: “EFCC Embarrassed Me” – President Tinubu

By
Ayodele Oni
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President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

 

Rising above partisan politics, and putting his feet down as President fir all, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court order which it obtained to freeze the account of Osun state government.

 

The EFCC, on Wednesday, in an unprecedented move that shocked not a few, froze Osun State Government’s accounts on reasons not quite understood by many.

 

But in a statement on Thursday personally signed by the president An embarrassed President Tinubu distanced himself from the EFCC action, and ordered in an unprecedented manner, that the the accounts be immediately unfrozen.

 

The statement reads:

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

 

“I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.

 

”This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.

 

“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference.

 

“I have, therefore, deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.

 

“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval.

 

“Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.   While I am yet to be fully appraised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.

 

“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.

“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.

“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard.”

Obi Faults Attacks on Catholic Bishops, Urges Tinubu to Embrace Constructive Criticism

By
The Source
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Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ( NDC) in the 2027, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised what he described as  growing intolerance of dissent by the Federal Government, warning that attacks on religious leaders who speak on national challenges undermine democracy and distract from the country’s pressing problems.

 

In a statement titled “When a Government Declares War on the Truth,” Obi said Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity, inflation and unemployment require sincere engagement with constructive criticism rather than hostility towards those who raise legitimate concerns.

 

According to him, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has never acted as an opposition platform but has consistently served as the nation’s moral conscience, speaking out on issues affecting the common good under both military and civilian administrations.

 

Obi noted that the same commitment to truth has been demonstrated by major Islamic and Christian organisations, including Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), all of which have repeatedly expressed concern over rising insecurity, economic hardship and inflation.

 

He argued that religious leaders are often among the first to witness the suffering of ordinary Nigerians because they live and work within local communities where families struggle daily with soaring food prices, unemployment, kidnappings and other security challenges.

 

Drawing from his experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi said constructive criticism from traditional rulers and religious leaders contributed significantly to the successes recorded by his administration, particularly in education and healthcare.

 

“As leaders, we should be gracious enough to listen to people and organisations that speak the truth to us and genuinely criticise us when things are not going in the right direction,” he stated.

 

The former governor expressed concern over recent attacks on the CBCN and, in particular, on His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, following the bishops’ assessment of the nation’s condition. He recalled that when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria in 1998 and openly challenged the late General Sani Abacha on issues including the detention of Chief Moshood Abiola, the pontiff was not subjected to public vilification.

 

Obi also pointed to what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s relationship with the Catholic Church. He observed that President Bola Tinubu demonstrated respect for the Church during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome by arriving ahead of many world leaders and participating fully in the ceremonies, but said that posture appeared to have changed following criticism from the Nigerian bishops.

 

He further accused political actors of attempting to exploit religious and ethnic divisions by portraying the bishops’ comments as a purely Catholic concern.

 

According to Obi, the issues highlighted by the bishops – including insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment and widespread hardship – affect all Nigerians irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

 

“The bishops merely expressed what millions of Nigerians experience daily,” he said, arguing that government officials should focus on addressing the concerns raised instead of attacking respected religious leaders.

 

Obi maintained that a democratic government should welcome honest feedback from credible institutions, insisting that national progress depends on leaders’ willingness to confront difficult truths rather than silence those who voice them.

Bishops Are Trusted Whistle-blowers Rather Than Political Adversaries – Peter Obi Media Office

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu

 

The Peter Obi Media Office has decided to add a voice to the needless feud over harmless and patriotic advice from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN. The friction highlights a classic governance hazard prevalent in the country, which is the insulation of executive power from ground-level reality. When presidential aides dismiss pastoral feedback on cost-of-living struggles and security concerns as merely “one perspective” or a breach of protocol, they miss the strategic value of moral, non-partisan feedback.

​Dismissing the clerics’ assessment as partisan or alarmist is a tactical error. Listening to the episcopacy is not a political concession; it is vital to sound governance for several key reasons:

Unlike political appointees and state governors who often sanitise reports to protect their offices, bishops preside over vast, decentralised networks that reach deep into Nigeria’s rural and urban peripheries. From remote parishes to community healthcare centres, clerics absorb the daily economic pain, food insecurity, and quiet desperation of citizens long before these issues register in official economic indicators.

Power naturally creates an echo chamber. Advisers frequently tell leaders what they want to hear, emphasising macroeconomic metrics or reform milestones while glossing over human costs. Credible figures like Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso provide an unvarnished mirror, serving as an institutional check against presidential isolation.

 

Religious leaders act as critical shock absorbers in times of deep social anxiety. When bishops voice public frustration, they provide a constructive, peaceful channel for popular discontent. Rebuffing their warnings risks alienating a vital institutional bridge between an overstretched state and an increasingly exhausted populace.

​The pastoral warnings presented by the CBCN are not designed to undermine the administration but to anchor policy in the lived experiences of everyday Nigerians. For President Tinubu, treating the clergy as trusted whistleblowers instead of political adversaries is essential to bridging the gap between macroeconomic projections and the realities on the street.

 E-sign:

Idris Zekeri Jnr

POMR Spokesman.

August 5, 2026.

Ex- Finance Minister Adeosun Loses Husband

By
James Orji
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Kemi Adeosun
Kemi Adeosun

The family of the deceased said in an announcement that he died on Wednesday, August 5, in Lagos, at the of age 62.

According to the announcement of his death made by the Adeosun family in a statement signed by Reverend C. A. Adeosun on behalf of the family, the deceased was a grounded famliy man loved by all

The family said he was a “beloved husband, father, and brother… with profound sorrow, yet in total submission to the will of Almighty God.”

Describing the late Adeosun, the statement said he was “a distinguished businessman and a devoted Christian whose integrity, generosity and steadfast faith touched the lives of all who knew him.”

According to the family, “He lived a life defined by hard work, service to God and an unwavering commitment to his family and community.”

The statement said he is survived by his wife, former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; his cherished children and his siblings, including Adewale Adeosun, Founder of Kuramo Capital, along with a host of other family members, associates and friends.

The family which described his passing as a huge loss said it has taken comfort in God’s Word in Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them”.

 

Osun Gov Election: Davido Preaches Peace, Says Individual Ambition Should Not Endanger Lives

By
Ayodele Oni
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Davido

By Ayodele Oni 

 

To the Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, Osun state must remain peaceful, no matter individual ambitions in the August 15 governorship election in the State.

 

He appealed to candidates in the Osun State governorship election to respect the will of the electorate and ensure the poll is conducted peacefully.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Davido, who is Governor Ademola Adeleke’s nephew, said no political ambition should be allowed to endanger lives or destabilise the state.

 

He urged political leaders and their supporters to avoid actions capable of heightening tension before, during and after the election, while encouraging eligible voters to turn out peacefully and exercise their civic rights.

 

“Dear contestants in the Osun State governorship election, this is your opportunity to seek the mandate of the people, but political opportunities come and go. 

 

“Whatever the outcome, please do not allow political ambition to put the lives and future of Osun people at risk.

 

“I appeal to you, your supporters and your party structures to allow the people to come out freely and peacefully to vote for the candidate of their choice.

 

“If they choose you, let your victory come through their votes. If they choose someone else, let their decision be respected,” he said.

 

Davido also urged residents not to be intimidated, stressing that every vote should count.

 

“I understand the tension and emotions surrounding this election, but I urge everyone to remain calm. No political ambition, disagreement or election is worth the life of any Osun son or daughter. Let us reject violence, intimidation, provocation and destruction.

 

“To every eligible voter in Osun, come out and exercise your right to vote. Do not be afraid or intimidated. Your vote is your voice, and your choice must be respected,” he added.

 

The singer also appealed to the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to promote peaceful and credible elections.

 

He said he had heard reports alleging possible interference in the election but clarified that he was not presenting the claims as established facts.

 

“To our daddy from Imo State, I say this with respect. I have heard rumours suggesting there are moves to interfere in the Osun election or use the state as a political battleground to prove a point.

 

” I do not present these claims as facts, but I appeal to you to use your influence to promote peace and allow the people of Osun to choose their candidate freely.

 

“We have mutual connections, and I have a deep personal connection to Imo State because my wife, Chioma, is from the state. Please, let Osun remain peaceful, allow democracy to take its course and let the people decide,” he said.

 

Davido further called on residents to maintain peace regardless of the election outcome.

 

“Politics is temporary, but Osun will remain. No political victory is worth violence, destruction or the loss of a single life.

 

“To everyone in Osun, please come out, vote peacefully, reject intimidation and let your voice be heard.

 

“Osun is ours, the future is ours, and let peace lead the way,” he said.

PDP Slams Wike Over Bode George, Says The Minister Suffers From Diarrhoea Of The Mouth

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nyesom Wike - FCT Minister
Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has come under strong criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State Chapter, over his recent attack against Bode George, the Party’s former Deputy National Chairman.

 

The PDP, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Christopher Odianarewo, reminded Wike that his portfolio as Minister of FCT should not be used to intimidate citizens.

 

The Party said  that Wike suffers from diarrhoea of the mouth, and from chronic inability to process facts before vomiting reckless diatribes.

 

The statement reads in part: “His recent outbursts against a revered elder statesman, Chief Olabode George, aren’t only disgraceful but expose his trademark desperation, historical ignorance, and blatant disregard for the rule of law.

 

“Wike hypocritically labels a man who was categorically exonerated by the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, from all corrupt allegations during his tenure as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Board.

 

“How does a supposedly “educated” public servant conveniently forget judicial verdicts? Wike’s attempt to drag a cleared man through the mud shows that he’s a thoroughly confused fellow who only respects the judiciary when rulings favour his selfish political survival.”

 

The Party further condemned Wike’s questioning of the ownership of Chief  George’s Abuja residence, describing it as a clear cut case of an affront and a dangerous abuse of office.

 

“Wike must be reminded that neither he nor Rivers State has any link whatsoever to Chief Olabode George’s private residence.

 

“Indeed, Wike’s penchant for overstepping boundaries and meddling where he has no business is well documented.”

 

The statement from the Party further recalls the memorable occasion when he was embarrassed by the Chief Security Officer, CSO, to a former Chief of Defence Staff while attempting to hobnob and throw his weight around within the private residence of the former military chief.

 

“Wike was firmly put in his place by the alert security detail, exposing both his lack of decorum and the limits of his unauthorised intrusion.

 

“He must understand that his ministerial portfolio is not a license to intimidate citizens or weaponise state power against private individuals.”

 

The Party added that as regards Lagos State, Wike barks from a seat of ignorance, displaying little understanding of how national politics actually played out.

 

 “When Chief Bode George served as the PDP National Vice Chairman (South) and successfully delivered five states in a landslide victory, Wike was merely a local government chairman struggling for political relevance in Rivers State.

 

“If Wike genuinely wants a history lesson on why the PDP struggle in Lagos, he should ask former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who publicly acknowledged and apologised to Nigerians for the subterranean roles he played as a PDP leader in 2003 that inadvertently aided the opposition in securing victory in Lagos.

 

“Wike speaks simply because his mouth is open, not because his brain is engaged. His cronies in Lagos continue to expose his inability to think independently by feeding him half baked, un-researched gossip.”

 

Odianarewo further berated Wike for betraying those who built him politically, saying that the FCT Minister has the audacity to accuse others of inconsistency when he has become the poster child for political treachery.

 

 “Among those who helped him rise politically, who he eventually betrayed or fought? From the Odilis’ to the Amaechis’; from the Jonathans’ to Chief Bode George and beyond.

 

“Wike has earned a reputation as a political serial destroyer of relationships. His current alliance of convenience with President Tinubu appears transactional and, judging by Wike’s own political history, may only be a matter of time before it too descends into another public fallout.”

 

It charged Wike to sit down, undergo rigorous rehabilitation for his obvious political hyperactivity, and learn to respect elders whose shoes he’s unfit to lace.

 

 “Lagos is not Rivers State, and Chief Bode George is not one of Wike’s intimidated stooges.”

 

The PDP urged Wike to focus on his responsibilities in the FCT and stop embarrassing himself with pedestrian gossip, and keep Chief Bode George’s name out of his mouth.

Watch It; You Are Playing God, Dino Melaye Warns Tinubu

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Dino Melaye and Bola Tinubu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

Former Senator Dino Melaye, who represented Kogi West District  at the National Assembly, has sent a message to President Bola Tinubu. In the message, Melaye reminded the President of the supremacy and finality of God’s intervention in the affairs of human beings.

 

In a cryptic message shared on his official site, Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, warned the President to be  weary of ending same way the late Military Head of State General Sani Abacha did, almost at the finishing line of his self -succession plot in 1998 .

 

Senator Melaye’s  cautionary note is coming against the backdrop of the raging controversy over the recent visit of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN to the Aso Rock Villa, during which they expressed serious concern over perceived disturbing trend within the polity.

 

Particularly, the Catholic c Bishops had expressed discomfort with the excruciating economic situation in the country, and the shrinking of the democratic space using Government institutions, and instruments of state power.

 

Further giving an insight into the meeting between the CBCN and the Government, one of the participants at the meeting, the Archbishop Emiretus of Abuja Diocese John Cardinal Onaiyekan in an Arise News interview warned that there are palpable signs that President Tinubu is determined to win re-election by all means possible.

 

He equally informed that the President dismissed all the genuine fears expressed by the Catholic leaders about the precarious economic and socio-political situation in the country.

 

The political temperature of the country has since risen to a boiling point following the smearing attacks launched on Cardinal Onaiyekan by presidential spokespersons ,as well as the backlash that has continued to trail the belligerent posture of the presidency.

 

Weighing in on the perceived arrogance of the presidency in the face of the expression of legitimate and genuine concern by the Catholic Bishops and other well-meaning Nigerians, Melaye asked President Tinubu to remember that he is a mere mortal ,who can be called home even at the verge of his “conquest of Nigeria” as was the case with Abacha.

 

He emphasized that when God decides to pick His phone to call a person “there will be no network system failure.”

 

According to Melaye, President Tinubu should not act as if he does not have knowledge of the omnipotent nature of God, as well as His ever readiness to prove that He is the Alpha and Omega.

 

“There is a God factor in the affairs of men. Tinubu does not understand this. Abacha was endorsed by all the 5 political parties at the time.

 

“There was no contest; he was already cruising to become a civilian President. God picked His phone and called Abacha .

 

” When God calls, there is no network failure. That God has not gone on Omugwo. Tinubu watch it” Melaye wrote .

2027: Court Sacks Ondo APC Candidate, Orders INEC To Recognize Arobo As Winner Of Primary

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
APC

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize Abdugani Arobo as the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the Candidate for  Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State at the upcoming 2027 House of Representatives election.

 

The Court sacked Timehin Adeleye as the APC Candidate at the 2027 Poll following findings that Arobo is the rightful candidate of the Party having won the APC primary election.

 

Justice Lifu delivered the judgment following a suit filed by Arobo against the APC and Electoral umpire, INEC, after the Party submitted Adeleye’s name as its candidate.

 

Although the APC National Working Committee forwarded Adeleye’s name to INEC, the decision was opposed by several Party members and leaders in Ondo State, leading Arobo to challenge it in court.

 

In its ruling, the court held that the APC did not make a lawful return from the primary election and found that the evidence presented by the party contained contradictions.

 

The Court further ruled that Arobo secured the highest lawful votes during the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026, making him the valid winner of the contest for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency ticket.

 

According to the judgment, Arobo polled 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.

 

Based on its findings, the Court declared that Arobo is the only aspirant whose name can legally be submitted to INEC as the APC candidate for the constituency in the 2027 general election.

 

The Court also ordered the APC to accept, recognise and deal only with Arobo as the winner of the party’s primary election for the House of Representatives seat.

 

In addition, the court barred the APC and its representatives from recognising or dealing with any other person as the party’s candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

 

Justice Lifu further directed INEC to reopen its nomination portal to allow the submission and upload of Arobo’s name as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.

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