Headlines
PDP, APC Disagree over Makinde’s 100 Days in Office Achievements
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have come against each regarding the achievements and otherwise of Governor Seyi Makinde after 100 days in office.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Dr. AbdulAzeez Olatunde, APC said: “There is no award for anyone to guess which state in Nigeria is being governed by an accidentally unprepared governor, because anyone who guesses would certainly guess right as Oyo State.
“Imagine Oyo State governor who, within himself, knows that he has added nothing to what he met on ground, in the last 100 days, to still be bold enough to come to the public with blatant falsehood and lies that only 10 per cent of contract sum is actually used to service contracts by his predecessor and the remaining 90 per cent goes back to the awarder of the contracts.
“Thank God, Governor Seyi Makinde, you have set up Oyo State Anti-Graft Agency and you are now in power. Please, you are challenged to do the needful as we are giving it to you that, this is white lies which are not tenable anywhere in the world.“We are not surprised to hear that from you because you have penchant for contradicting yourself.
“Three of such cases are ample evidence to your oscillating words. During your campaign, you said that Oyo State’s workers deserve more than N30,000 minimum wage, which you have refused to pay and even refused to revisit with your 100 days in office. Your promise to make LAUTECH, solely owned by Oyo State institution within your first 100 days has fallen flat like your other promises. Imagine the blatant 360 turnaround to your promise of reduction of tuition fees, pleading with Ibadan Polytechnic’s student that reduction is not feasible for now.
“What has Governor Seyi Makinde done to justify his governance in 100 days? Perhaps, Governor Seyi Makinde may want to commission the Model Schools built and completed by Sen. Abiola Ajimobi which Ajimobi’s loaded schedule denied him of commissioning.
“Permit me to remind His Excellency, Engr. Makinde that Oyo State’s people were promised that their maize would be exported to Botswana, and thank God, this is the season of maize. We deserve to know how many tons of maize has been exported? And how has this been impacting on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)?”
In its response, the PDP, accused the state’s chapter of the APC of being desperate to blackmail the laudable achievements of the state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde and the ruling party in the state. The PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Akeem Olatunji, accused APC of sponsoring all manners of falsehood against PDP and the Makinde government aimed at belittling the successful clearing of the rot left behind by APC in Oyo State and the positive turnaround the state has begun to experience since Makinde assumed office.
According to Olatunji, “We are greatly appalled at the desperation of APC to publicise all manners of lies and falsehood against our government. There is a permissible level of decency in politics and we expect everyone to follow that cause.“Rather than wish our state well after the eight years of disastrous rule and bad governance APC foisted on Oyo State, that party is standing alone as a rotten apple in the basket, seeking to negatively affect others.
“Let us assure the lie merchants in APC that our party, PDP, stands firm with Governor Seyi Makinde, and the laudable achievements he has recorded in 100 days. No member of PDP is angry with the governor and no one is expressing any such frustration as contained in the lies being marketed by APC.”
The statement indicated that PDP is solidly behind Makinde, as he continues laying the foundation for the accelerated development of the state. The PDP’s Publicity Secretary added that PDP is more than ever before united as a family, saying: “We are impressed at the globally acclaimed good works of our governor. No one abandons a good product, not even the blind.
“Let us place on record that purveyors of such stories are either deluded, suffering from acute amnesia, or just trying to make a nuisance of themselves. It is not only unfounded, frivolous and malicious but also a great lie that stands no reason. Governor Makinde is no longer about Oyo State; he is already a nationally acclaimed deliverer of good dividends of democracy and good governance.
“We as a party are more than ever before proud of our God-sent ‘Mr. Talk and Do Governor,’ who works more and talks less, and this willpower of Governor Makinde has rekindled our hope and faith in the actualisation of the Oyo project embarked upon by our governor.
“We are 100 per cent satisfied with his every move and decision, because he treats every member of PDP as members of the family. We therefore enjoin all members of the public to disregard in totality the distractive publications, falsehood and unbridled lies being peddled against the service-delivering governor.”
The Guardian
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.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that any attempt to hurriedly re‑gazette Nigeria’s new tax laws could undermine parliamentary oversight and set a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Atiku’s warning follows public scrutiny over reports that the Tax Reform Acts signed by President Bola Tinubu differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly. Lawmakers, including Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns that the alterations could pose serious legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any constitutional framework.
In a statement on X, Atiku said the directive to re-gazette the Acts effectively confirms “that the gazetted version of the Tinubu Tax Act does not reflect what was duly passed by the National Assembly,” calling it “a grave constitutional issue.”
He emphasized that under Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, a bill only becomes law after passage by both chambers, presidential assent, and gazetting.
“Gazetting is merely an administrative act of publication. It does not create, amend, or validate a law,” Atiku said, adding that any post-passage insertion, deletion, or modification without legislative approval constitutes forgery rather than a clerical error.
Atiku further warned that rushing a re-gazetting while legislative investigations are ongoing “undermines parliamentary oversight and sets a dangerous precedent,” stressing that the only lawful approach is “fresh legislative consideration, re-passage by both chambers, fresh presidential assent, and proper gazetting.”
The former vice president clarified that his position is not opposition to tax reform but a defence of constitutional order.
“This is a defence of the integrity of the legislative process and a rejection of any attempt to normalise constitutional breaches through procedural shortcuts,” he said.
The Federal government has denied wrongdoing, insisting the laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, while the National Assembly has directed the issuance of Certified True Copies of the Acts to ensure clarity and accuracy.
