Headlines
Amosun Praises Self, Says I Performed Better than Osoba, Daniel Combined
Outgoing governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, on Tuesday boasted that a combination of the achievements of Gbenga Daniel and Olusegun Osoba as former governors of the state would not match his administration’s achievements.
Amosun said this on the sidelines of the inauguration of a housing scheme in Isheri, Ifo Local Government Area.
He said his administration’s projects were scattered across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The governor, however, admitted that he concentrated most of his projects in the Ogun Central district due to its status as the state capital.
He said, “I am not the first governor; particularly, let us talk about the last two.
“Let us leave all the military administrators and take Chief Osoba and Daniel.
“Put them together and let them point to their projects. Once they say this is our project, I will show them 10. Even in Ijebu and Yewa, I will show them.
“I have told people that I should not be punished for the ‘sin’ that is committed to make Abeokuta the capital of Ogun State. Abeokuta is for all of us.
“They said I am governor of Abeokuta. I am happy to be governor of Abeokuta. And I want to come again and again, I would want to be classified like that (Governor of Abeokuta).
“Ask them, people have come before me. People that say they have been governors of this state. If they say they were governors of everywhere, let them come and point to what they have done that is better than what we have done.”
Amosun said he was ready to speak and challenge his predecessors now that he was leaving office.
While saying posterity would judge everybody, the outgoing governor said he was at peace with himself and his creator.
He said those who had been describing him as the worst governor of the state were only envious of his achievements.
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
