Headlines
Fayose Congratulates Fayemi, Says He Deserves to be NGF Chairman
The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday said his successor, Kayode Fayemi, deserved to be chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF).
This is contained in a congratulatory message he sent to the Ekiti State governor.
Mr Fayose, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, said Mr Fayemi’s emergence as NGF Chairman was “well deserved of him and the people of Ekiti.”
He said: “I congratulate Governor Kayode Fayemi on his appointment and elevation as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)
“It is well deserved for you and the entire people of Ekiti. Politics will come and go, but Ekiti State will remain eternal
“Once again, you have my best wishes”, he said.
Both Mr Fayose and Mr Fayemi are members of different political parties with the former belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the latter belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr Fayemi was defeated by Mr Fayose in the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti. Mr Fayemi, however, won the 2018 election to return as governor. He was inaugurated last October.
Meanwhile, prominent indigenes of state have asked Mr Fayemi to use the new office to advance the development of the nation and particularly Ekiti.
A former commissioner and current Chairman, Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Kayode Babade, who congratulated the new NGF chairman, described his emergence as a blessing to the state and the Yoruba race.
Mr Fayemi on Wednesday emerged the new NGF chairman through consensus, thus becoming the first in the history of the South West to attain such position.
Mr Babade advised him to use the new office to attract development and global support for Ekiti and to fight on the side of Nigerians by ensuring that there is equity and justice in the distribution of the nation’s wealth.
Mr Fayemi takes over from Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari for the next two years.
Mr Babade, who is also a former Leader of the State House of Assembly, said he was not surprised at the victory of Mr Fayemi based on his outstanding track records and leadership skills.
“Fayemi is a rare leader, he has displayed this uniqueness in all the offices that he has occupied. I want to congratulate the people of the state and the Southwest in general on this feat.
“I urge him to use the new office to reshape the politics of our state with this new position. The image of Ekiti has again been launched to a higher pedestal, being the first time a governor from our state and region will occupy this position.
In another statement, Sunday Adebomi, a retired army captian, congratulated the governor, describing his emergence as a welcome development, which according to him, is a manifestation of the confidence his fellow governors have in him.
Mr Adebomi stated that he had no doubt that Mr Fayemi would live up to expectation in the new assignment as a purposeful leader, fully committed to the advancement of APC and sustenance of democracy.
“I am confident that the governor will still surpass his predecessor, who used the position to negotiate for the disbursement of the Paris Club Refund and other intervention funds to states amid difficulties in the payment of salaries”.
(NAN)
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has argued that there is nothing wrong if Nigeria evolves into a one-party state, provided it reflects the will of the people.
Speaking to State House correspondents on Friday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ganduje dismissed concerns raised by opposition leaders over the country’s political direction.
He insisted that the growing dominance of the APC is a reflection of public trust in the party’s governance.
“If one-party state is a wish and blessing to Nigeria; One-party state is not by force; it is by negotiation,” Ganduje said.
“If other political parties see the effect of the positive governance of our party and decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that.”
Citing China as an example of a successful one-party system, Ganduje stated that the APC is not actively working to eliminate opposition, but that defections and realignments are part of democratic processes.
“Too many political parties spoil governance,” he added.
Ganduje led three senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reportedly from Kebbi State, to meet with President Tinubu, announcing their intention to join the APC.
According to him, their defection is the result of extensive negotiations among stakeholders in the state and is part of APC’s broader strategy to strengthen its base.
“This is a good development and in consonance with what is happening in Nigeria today. Almost every week in the Senate and House of Representatives, you see members of other political parties decamping to our party,” he said.
Ganduje assured that the APC is prepared to smoothly integrate the new members, maintaining that the party’s strategy to expand both its numbers and the quality of its membership is aligned with democratic principles.
The Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distanced herself from a viral TikTok video that surfaced online showing her dancing to “Omo Ologo”, a song in praise of President Bola Tinubu.
In a public disclaimer released via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Akpoti-Uduaghan denied owning any TikTok account, warning the public against being misled by parody accounts across various social media platforms.
“I do not own a TikTok account,” she posted.
“Many parody accounts exist in my name on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Some have garnered large followings.”
She clarified that the circulating video was manipulated from an old 2023 clip and repurposed with “mischievous intent” to mislead the public.
“While I hold the President in utmost respect, I’d urge everyone to disregard the mischievous post made using an old 2023 video of mine,” she stated.
The video, sound-tracked by “Omo Ologo”, a praise song performed by Dauda Kahutu Rarara at a recent event attended by Tinubu in Katsina, appeared to depict the senator aligning herself with the president’s camp.
President Bola Tinubu has issued a passionate call for unity, resilience, and renewed patriotism, urging Nigerians to stand firm behind ongoing reforms aimed at rebuilding the country’s economic foundation.
Speaking during a grand reception in Awka, Anambra State, on the occasion of his state visit, President Tinubu acknowledged the current challenges facing the nation but assured the people that the hard choices were necessary for lasting prosperity.
“We continue to plead with Nigerians for their patience and understanding,” Tinubu appealed.
“We call on all patriots and progressives to rise and continue to work hard every day for the greatness of our dear country. We have no other country but Nigeria. We must make it great as the pride of the black race.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development, citing progress made in economic reform, infrastructure investment, and improved public finance management.
“We met near-insolvent public finance… unsustainable multiple subsidies… a chaotic and debilitating forex regime. These monsters have been tackled,” he said.
Highlighting renewed investor confidence and growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, Tinubu said the “Renewed Hope Agenda” was already yielding visible results.
He particularly commended Anambra for leading in innovation and development, referencing the commissioning of the Solution Fun City and Government House Mini-City as signs of progress.
Describing Governor Chukwuma Soludo as “a brilliant man” and “a thinker who knows the way,” Tinubu added: “We are working together for a better Anambra and Nigeria.”
The president also praised Anambra State for fully implementing and even surpassing the new national minimum wage, calling it “a signal of true leadership and compassion for the working class.”
Asserting the federal government’s commitment to equitable development, Tinubu promised increased investment in roads, power, rail, and digital infrastructure across all regions, including the Southeast.
