Headlines
Lamido Lambasts APC at Commissioning of Wike’s Road Project in Rivers
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, on Monday, declared that the last five years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has been characterised by division and insecurity.
Lamido described APC as an assemblage of persons drawn from defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), saying the APC was propelled by hate, moved by anger, envy and malice.
He stated this yesterday while inaugurating the Rumuji-Ibaa-Obelle-Isiopko Road in Rivers State, adding: “When APC came on board, they had no programme or plan. Their main aim was to flush out PDP from government because we were performing, organised, committed, compassionate and humane.”
He explained that remodeling of the airports, rehabilitation of railway and reform of the power sector were all PDP initiatives and not that of APC, saying: “They can’t think. They have no vision, feeling and compassion, they are there for power and the power is now tormenting them, because it was abused.”
He expressed delight that development projects were not only being executed in the Port Harcourt alone but also in hinterland of Rivers State.
Lamido said leaders like Governor Nyesom Wike have continued to demonstrate that it is only PDP that loved the people that would do things to improve their wellbeing and work for a united country.
On his part, Governor Wike explained that his projects were being implemented to transform the rural areas, boost economic activities and create a conducive environment that offers Rivers people more opportunities to actualise their potential.
He said politicians had used the Rumuji-Ibaa-Obelle-Isiopko Road for political campaign, adding that they usually promise to rehabilitate the road if the people supported them, but would fail to fulfill their promise after elections.
“The people of Isiopko, Obele, Ibaa and Rumuji, who will reflect on how this road was, will not forget it easily. Today, we can come back home. All of us can go to the market. We can all drive freely and those from Isiopko can pass through to Emohua, while those from Rumuji and all of us can easily go to the airport.
“This is what development entails. Development is not about giving people money. It is all about making the environment conducive for economic activities to thrive,” he said.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the road linked Emohua and Ikwerre Council areas and would provide the people the benefit of accessing the Port Harcourt International Airport easily and transport their farm produce without stress.
The Guardian
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.”
