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Peter Obi tackles Presidency over absence of Tinubu, Shettima from the country

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has slammed President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, for leaving the leadership vacuum while the nation is facing severe economic challenges.

The President is currently on a working leave outside Nigeria while his deputy, Shettima travelled to Sweden on an official visit on Wednesday. The president departed Nigeria on the 3rd of October.

The absence of the two top citizens from the country at the same time have however raised concerns among some Nigerians.

Reacting, the former Anambra governor, via his official X handle on Friday expressed concern over the presidency’ absence despite the myriads of domestic problems facing the country.

Obi carpeted the president for extending his leave above all for sending Shettima who should be on the ground to Sweden when he would have simply flown there being just two hours close.

To Obi, it makes no common economic or management sense that at a time when Nigerians are begging for one meal a day, the president has continued to live carelessly not minding the people’s plight.

The statement reads: “While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa , there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems.

“The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country.

“One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours.

“The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration’s policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation.

“Again, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden. He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours.

“This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time. Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm.

“This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty.

“This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation’s scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people.”

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President Tinubu swears in seven new ministers

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers in Abuja.

Those sworn in include Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs.

Others are Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing, and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State Education.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presides over the Swearing in Ceremony of New Ministers Screened by the Senate at the State House

Monday’s swearing-in came days after their appointments by President Tinubu and subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

Calls for the reshuffling of the president’s cabinet reached new levels in the wake of Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortunes which have worsened the living standards across the country.

President Tinubu heeded the calls in October, sacking five ministers and nominating seven others. Those dismissed included Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye (Women Affairs); Lola Ade-John (Tourism); Tahir Mamman (Education); Abdullahi Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development).

This was in addition to the reassignment of new portfolios to 10 other ministers.

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Osun: Police confirm arrest of man for allegedly killing father

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a man identified as Saidi for the alleged murder of his father, Bale in his farm at Ilusi, Osun State.

The Osun police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the arrest, disclosed that investigation has commenced into the matter.

Opalola said, “The suspect was arrested on the suspicion that he killed the father. I have been briefed about it. Investigation is ongoing.”

Village sources also revealed that the remains of the Bale was discovered on his farm on Friday after it was noticed that he had been missing for some hours.

A resident of the village, simply identified as Sakariyau, said that Bale went missing last Thursday and after a thorough search around the village, his corpse was found on his farm the following day covered with leaves.

He said, “Before he (Bale) was traced to his farm on Friday, he could not be found anywhere around the village since he left for the farm.

“When we got to his farm, we searched everywhere and found his remains covered with leaves. His head was cut off by unknown people.

“Thereafter, people around, who suspected Bale’s son, who accompanied the deceased to the farm on the day he was killed, descended on him.

“He was seriously beaten because people knew he went with his father to the farm to harvest cocoa. He initially denied killing the man, but he later admitted committing the crime after he was seriously tortured by some angry youths.

“The cocoa produce already harvested and the motorcycle of the deceased were found on the farm. The boy was later handed over to police and he was taken to the Iperindo station for further investigations.”

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Appeal Court acquits ex-CJN Onnoghen

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, from his conviction of false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The conviction of Onnoghen was thrown out by the appellate court following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.

Delivering judgment, the Presiding Justice, Justice Abba Mohammed, adopted the terms of settlement between the federal government and Onnoghen.

He also ordered that the four bank accounts of the former CJN forfeited be returned to him.

Shortly after the judgment, Counsel to Onnoghen and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo, thanked President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi for ensuring the resolutions of the issue.

Onnoghen’s suspension came barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges who would preside over election petition tribunals.

Ex-President Buhari’s action elicited varied reactions from both within and outside the judicial circles, with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, describing it as a coup against the judiciary.

Onnoghen was later convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on a six-count corruption charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Government.

It was alleged that he made a false declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

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