News
BREAKING: Tinubu in deep pains over Okija, Abuja tragedies! *Cancels all appointments
To underscore the depth of his pains, President Bola Tinubu has reportedly cancelled all his official events in Lagos on Saturday, including a scheduled attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.
The President’s current emotional state, was conveyed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, who said his boss is ruing the two tragedies, which claimed many lives and left many others injured.
“President Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade and other activities of the Boat Regatta from the waterfront of his Oyinkan Abayomi Drive residence in Ikoyi. Dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos State government and white cap chiefs from the state, were already seated when the President cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies,” the statement, said.
It added: “Commiserating with the victims of the unfortunate incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory, President Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures immediately.
“He noted the disturbing resemblance between the mishaps at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, and a community Centre in Okija, Anambra State, and the tragic incident in Ibadan, Oyo State earlier this week.
“He said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities. While praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the innocent Nigerians who died in the stampedes, President Tinubu wished a quick recovery to the injured. He reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre- and post-event safety.”
‘‘In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them. The President wished the Lagos State government, organisers of the Boat Regatta, themed ‘‘Our Water, Our Heritage, Our Life,’’ a successful and hitch-free festival.”
Much as he tried to stress his neutrality in the current contest for the presidential ticket of African Democratic Congress (ADC), between Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State, on Friday gave an indication – power is returning to the North.
A guest on Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, Tambuwal, also former Speaker of the House of Representatives, told his host that he foresaw a replay of the outcome of the 1979 presidential election which produced Shehu Shagari as President.
Atiku is seen as the most visible candidate from the North angling for the nation’s number one job, outside Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Forum, who has also purchase the form to run under the ADC after the exit of Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his Kano State counterpart.
After berating President Bola Tinubu for delivering the most underwhelming performance in office in the last three years, Tambuwal, currently representing Sokoto State at the Senate, told his host: “I foresee 1979 replaying.
“The situation is confirming the possibility of 1979 where you had two candidates from the South – Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and three from the North. Now, what you’re having are three candidates from the South. When we look at all of these, at the end of the day, we see what’s going to happen.”
Tambuwal, who described himself as a pan-Nigerian who never discussed politics from the prism of ethnicity, countered the notion that his position on Tinubu flowed from his coming from the South.
Hear him: “I never discuss politics based on ethnicity or religion. I’m a pan-Nigerian. The people in Lagos are not happy. The people in Osun are not happy. Are they from Borno where Kashim Shettima is from? No! I have never denied that I had a mutually beneficial relationship with Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I have great respect for him. He supported me to become Speaker of House of Representatives. But that doesn’t stop me from being objective. As I told you before, I foresee a replay of 1979. I wish the opposition was united, but now that what happened has happened, I think we still have a chance. When the candidates emerge, Nigeria will definitely make their choice.
“I see a situation whereby with the combination of our spread in the country as a party, and the likelihood of having a better candidate on the ballot and other dynamics of the ADC, we’ll emerge victorious.”
“Downing Street has no favourite political party and will not be seen interfering in local political matters,” were the words with which the UK government swore its neutrality in the upcoming general elections in 2027, saying the decision on the outcome was entirely up to Nigerians.
Gill Lever, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, who made this declaration, on Thursday, specifically maintained that London did not have any preferred presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
On a visit to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara State Governor at Government House, Ilorin, she also vowed that the government would not interfere in the conduct of the elections, but would prefer to see a free, peaceful, and credible elections process.
At the engagement, which marked a three-day official visit to the state, she stated: “The British Government would support a free, peaceful, and credible election in Nigeria next year. We all want to see elections that are peaceful, that are inclusive, and that are credible, with space for participation and with respect for institutions.
“The British government, as you’ll understand, Excellency, is entirely neutral. We do not favour one party or another, and we would never be in the business of telling Nigerian people how to vote.
“But peaceful and credible elections, of course, are not only a democratic objective. This is not only about the Commonwealth values and the values of democracy that we’ve long shared; they’re also an economic objective or imperative as well.”
AbdulRazaq, who said his administration had turned around the fortunes of the state, with significant progress made in different sectors of the economy, told his visitor: “We have made significant progress in different sectors of the economy: from health, education, agriculture, and road infrastructure. When we came in 2019, things just weren’t working in the state.
“From backlogs of pensions and gratuities to payment of half-salaries to the blacklist of Kwara by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),” he said, countering earlier narratives by some opposition elements.
“When we came in, 99% of schools did not have WASH facilities and no fencing of schools; teachers were, in fact, owed months in salary arrears. Today, we are up-to-date in investment in basic education with payment of counterpart funds to the UBEC.
“We have expanded access to education and healthcare, and we are making prompt payment of salaries as well as improving the welfare of the workforce. We have cleared the backlog of salaries we met. In fact, we are planning to raise the minimum wage again this year to N100,000.
“We have expanded access to university education with the completion of two campuses of KWASU in Kwara North and South. Then, by the time we leave office by 2027, Kwara will have five teaching hospitals to bridge the shortage of manpower in the health sector.”
Justices Emeka Nwite, and James Kolawole Omotosho, both of the Federal High Court Abuja, are now awaiting the nod of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move up the judicial ladder to the Court of Appeal after impacting the Nigerian polity quite dramatically.
Nwite sat on the controversial case of Nafiu Bala Gombe against the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the leadership tussle, which nearly saw the party emersed in crisis that led to its officers derecognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), until recently.
On his part, Omotosho, apart from handling the high-profile case that pitted the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly against led by Martins Emewhule against Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of the state, would also be remembered for the historic decision to slap a life-sentence on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The pair were among the 12 justices, recommended by the Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Judge of the Federation (CJN) to the appellate court after the 111th Meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the organ for hiring, discipline and promotion of judges in Nigeria.
Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, spokesman of the council disclosed that apart from the pair, Justices Yakubu Mohammed, Abodunde Oluwatoyin and Ajuwa Raphael, Abua Ojie, Ijohor Jennifer, Shuaibu Bala, also benefitted from the exercise.
Others included Buba Njane, Kado Sanusi, Ademola Enikuomehin and
Dadom Veronica, while Christine Ende was recommended for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Benue State and two others for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.
The recommendations were intended to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of Judicial Officers across various levels of the Judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.
Babalola-Ogedengbe, Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, also announced the extension of the tenure of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Imo State Acting Chief Judge for a further period of three months with effect from March 26, 2026 to June 26, 2026 to allow for completion of the process for appointing a substantive Chief Judge.
The Council commended Justice Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.
It reiterated the call on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the process of appointment of a substantive Chief Judge in order to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence, and enhance the effective administration of justice in the State.
On issues of discipline, the NJC rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service over age falsification.
The affected Judges were among 10 Judicial Officers recommended for compulsory retirement at the Council’s 109th meeting held on 25 June
2025.
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