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APC Govs Engage in Shouting Match As Buhari Shifts NEC Meeting
The meeting of the Progressives Governors’ Forum degenerated into a shouting match as pro-Oshiomhole governors engaged their colleagues who were opposed to him.
it was gathered that the two camps first met separately to harmonise their positions before holding a meeting involving all of them.
Governors in the Oshiomhole camp include Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Babagana Zulum (Borno), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, (Lagos), while governors against him include Bagudu (Kebbi), Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, (Ondo) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).
A source privy to the meeting said, “Trouble started when the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, wanted to present a communique he had prepared.
“When he said something suggesting that to the effect that the governors had agreed to ease Oshiomhole out, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, got up and accused him of being fraudulent. Zulum joined and tempers flared.”
Calm was later restored but there was still a stalemate when the two camps met with the President.
Another source said, “The intervention of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is simply to douse tension. There is still tension but the President in his wisdom decided to call for a ceasefire to give time for tempers to cool down.
“The governors are sharply divided. The first term governors were able to come together to speak with one voice to their older colleagues at some point. The President for reasons best known to himself listens a lot to the former Lagos State governor, Ahmed Tinubu.”
It was also gathered that the pro-Oshiomhole governors threatened to seek a replacement for Bagudu as Chairman of the PGF if he did not remove the Director General of the Forum, Salihu Lukeman, whom they accused of taking sides and going beyond his brief.
The Punch
Former governor of Anambra State, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi announced the decision on Tuesday at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said.
The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, was among the attendees.
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
